It can be frustrating when the body craves sleep yet it is deprived due to one commitment or the other. A group of people who constantly battle with getting the right amount of sleep are parents, infact research has shown that single parents rarely get enough sleep. So how can one manage to get a little more sleep which will eventually translate to good rest?.
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Appreciating the value of sleep and getting enough sleep are two different things and although the points below are slightly geared towards parents, I believe they can be substituted with any tangible thing that contends with your adequate sleep.
Below are a few tips;
Set a sleep schedule: This means saying NO to some activities after a particular hour. This is because your body needs to have exact hours of sleep (Night or day). As soon as the clock strikes that hour, It is your responsibility to stop any chores at that time, turn your phone on silent (to avoid disturbances) and then sleep. This differs from person to person. Parents especially new mothers are usually advised to structure this sleep time around when the baby sleeps but if your children are older then it may be possible for them to understand that mummy needs some time to rest/sleep….in others words….NO DISTURBANCE!!!
Strife to make your children independent: Find things that your children must do each day, which will leave you more time to get to bed earlier at night. If the children are older, you may not need to make dinner every night. They can always help themselves to something or better still prepare a quick meal for themselves. On the other hand, if the children are much younger, allow them do for themselves what their mental development can accommodate e.g feed themselves, fold their clothes or make their bed. As a parent, you know your child's maturity and capabilities so take good advantage of this.
Learn to ask for help: Who can help you with household chores or childcare? What jobs or commitments can you say no to? Who is in your circle of friends, neighbors or family members? How can they be helpful?. Can you trust them? Building a team of people who you can turn to for support to manage your workload at home and outside of the home will definitely help you get more sleep.
Juggling a 9 to 5 with raising young kids along other family and personal commitments sometimes leaves me sleep deprived and a bit cranky but these tips help a lot and I believe they can help you too
Thanks for reading!