Sweet Dreams
Posted by Danielle Bean in Health on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 7:00 AM
Good morning! How did you sleep last night? Not so good?
If so, you’re not alone. Moms are some of the most sleep-deprived people I know. Depending upon a mother’s stage in life, stress, pregnancy, babies, toddlers, teens, and hormones all can conspire to destroy her nightly rest.
Different people have different sleep requirements, but if you are a mom, chances are you aren’t catching enough Z’s, and lack of sleep can disrupt your concentration, increase irritability, and decrease your body’s ability to fight off illness.
While I can’t promise you that a toddler won’t crawl into your bed tonight, I can offer you some sleep tips to improve your chances for getting a decent night’s rest.
- Keep it cool. Studies show that people sleep better and longer in cooler temperatures.
- Turn off TV. Refraining from television viewing or computer work for a while before bed increases the quality of sleep.
- Exercise. You will fall asleep faster and go to sleep deeper if you physically tire yourself during the day. But don’t work out too close to bedtime as exercise can be stimulating.
- Stick to a schedule. Staying up too late or sleeping in on weekends can disrupt your body’s sleep/wake cycle.
- Skip substances. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine within a few hours of bedtime. Stimulants stay in your body and affect your ability to rest for many hours.
- Eat wisely. Some foods are more likely than others to induce sleepiness. Besides the tried and true warm milk, try bananas, honey, potatoes, oatmeal, almonds, flaxseeds, and whole-wheat bread. See a more complete list here.
- Limit napping. Sleeping in the daytime can be a mom’s best friend. But napping for too long or too late in the day can sabotage your night’s sleep.
And if all else fails, and you find yourself exhausted and awake in the dead of the night, I can offer one last tip:
Pray.
You might be too bleary-eyed to focus on the mysteries of the Rosary, but you can put yourself in God’s presence and unite your suffering’s to Christ’s for the good of yourself, your family, or all souls.
I have spent some of my most peaceful, prayerful moments while rocking a sickly baby in the quiet of my darkened living room in the middle of the night. My house and my mind are rarely so peaceful, quiet, and still.
How about you? What are your tips for getting a good night’s sleep?
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