Sleep is important. The damage to your health and well being when you are deprived of the right amount of sleep are numerous and well-documented. The burdens of work, raising children and everyday stresses make sleep difficult for millions of adults despite their awareness that sleep is so important to their well-being.
Even children have been shown in studies to be stressed and sleep-deprived in increasing numbers. Teens report being stressed by work and social pressures as well as distractions from virtual life and video games that interrupt their sleep patterns.
In short, we know that sleep is one of the most important factors to overall health but we are all guilty of neglecting it more often than not.
Why Moms Need to Sleep
Women with children report that they get less sleep than their partners and many of them report getting less than five hours of sleep a night. While it is considered "normal" to sleep poorly as a parent, there is increasing evidence that mothers are not getting enough sleep even under ideal circumstances.
Studies show that men with children are rarely sleep deprived while women face a much higher risk. While there are cases where the father is the primary caretaker for the children, women are sleep deprived in more instances because they do most of the child care in many homes.
Studies show that mothers who get enough sleep are more involved with their children. It's hard enough to keep up with your kids when you are well-rested. Imagine trying to keep up day in and day out if you are exhausted!
Perhaps one of the most overlooked reasons for mothers to get enough sleep is because moms have to drive their kids to events, playdates, school and appointments. Driving drowsy is one of the most dangerous things that you can do and driving drowsy with kids in the car is even more dangerous due to possible distractions from the children while you are driving.
How to Get More Sleep
If you are a mom needing patience and energy and focus to parent effectively, don't fear! There are some easy ways to help get more sleep that any mom can take advantage of. If you have an involved partner or family who can help you out, this stuff is even easier to add to your daily life. However, if you are a single mom, you can take advantage of these tips as well.
If you have the chance, nap on a firm and reliable mattress. Even getting a short power nap worked into your day can make a word of difference to your body's ability to recharge and reboot. You can delay laundry or other tasks but you cannot delay the needs of your body.
Keep your kids on a schedule to help regulate sleep times for everyone in the household. It is a lot easier to get some sleep yourself if your kids sleep through the night.
Remember to incorporate quiet time into the day where you and your kids unwind and calm down before bed. Reading together or even quietly talking away from the TV or the phone can help your bodies to quiet into sleep and can improve the chances that everyone in the house will get netter night's sleep.
Remember that sleep is more important than chores or binge watching your favorite show. Everyone in the house benefits from a well-rested mom taking care of them and a well-rested mom will enjoy her time with her kids much more.
