I can tell you that I for sure am not. And I can bet that many of you reading this aren’t either. Earlier this week, I was scheduled to appear on the Tamron Hall Show to discuss the lack of sleep in Motherhood. Unfortunately, our segment was cut short due to the untimely death of Kobe Bryant, and I didn’t make it on air.
Sleep is something that I enjoy. Before having kids, I could sleep like a rock. I wouldn’t even hear any noise or thunderstorms during the night. After having the boys, EVERYTHING changed. I think waking up every 2-3 hours around the clock, during the newborn phase of their lives trained me to get used to not sleeping.
The boys are 10 and 8, so my lack of sleep now comes from life. My mind is constantly going, worrying about what I didn’t finish, bills, money, work, family problems, and the list can go on forever. What’s the number one thing on your mind when you can’t sleep at night?
So now that we have this problem, what is the solution? I am here to share what I have been doing to help me get a restful night’s sleep. First off, Tamron gifted us with a comforter and a sheet set to help us get our bed in order for better quality sleep. Once those items arrive in the mail, I’ll update you on their effects! In the meantime, I have been using a weighted blanket. That is all I asked for this past holiday season, and I must say it has made a difference.
Once I’m in bed, I need something to help lull me to sleep. I have been playing a mix of nature sounds on the Relax Melodies app. I set my timer to 20 or 30 minutes, and close my eyes and try to relax my mind as much as possible. Which leads me to meditation. I haven’t been great at this practice, but it is said to aid in better sleep. Exercise also helps. When I was in the gym consistently, I slept better. My personal new year starts February 1st, I need to get back to it!
In 2017, I started listening to podcasts. To help with sleeping, I usually set a timer to a motivational podcast like Joel Osteen or T.D. Jakes. Audiobooks are also a part of my new routine, currently listening to Iyanla Vanzant’s, Get Over It!
Reading! I slacked off tremendously in 2019, but this year I am back with a reading vengeance. If I have the energy, I like to read a couple of chapters before I drift off. What are you currently reading, let me know in the comments!
Sleep aids are not something I am comfortable taking. I am the kind of person who doesn’t even take a simple Advil for a headache, I just rock out with pain. If sleep aids help you, I am not here to judge. But I wanted to share my feelings in case someone suggested it to me. Leave any other sleep remedies you have in the comments below! Here’s to being rested and chic in 2020!! Thank you so much for reading.
I’m not a mother, but I relate to the struggles for sleep at age 41. Even when I get to bed at a decent hour, falling and staying asleep are challenges now. In relation, I’ve heard many people talking about this book lately: https://www.adacalhoun.com/why-we-cant-sleep
Might be worth a further look. No matter what type of relationship we’re in, women are more often than not the gatekeepers of a household. We carry many pressures, tasks, worries and bundles of love in our hearts and heads. And every girlfriend I have is a perfectionist! Overwhelming! Like we’re never enough…
Thanks for giving this vital topic more light, Karese!
Author
Yes, that is the main point I think the author made in her book, We are always taking care of other people. We have to prioritize ourselves and sleep, and not feel guilty about it. Thank you so much for reading and sharing this book, I hope we all get some quality sleep!