Sure, you know you should be getting a good 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. But we live in a busy world of work, family, self-care priorities, and countless distractions. It’s all too easy to talk yourself into skipping sleep for other needs in your life.
Prioritize your rest as much as you would a good workout or a healthy meal! After all, it’s just as important to your health. Here are some best practices to help you preserve your precious sleep time.
Make a Sleep Schedule
Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Yes, even weekends. This will let your body get into a natural rhythm. Aim for a full 7 to 9 hours each night.
Make It Consistent
It’s common to think of sleep as something you can “make up.” But human bodies aren’t like bank accounts; we can’t make withdrawals and deposits whenever we want. We need plenty of rest as consistently as possible.
Limit Distractions
Give your devices a rest! Texts, TV shows, games, and funny cat videos will all be there for you the next day. Set a bedtime alert on your phone or stick a note to your TV reminding you of your bedtime―and theirs.
Ask for Help
Overwhelmed with to-do lists? Delegate! Ask your kids to help wash dishes or enlist your partner for evening chores. See if a coworker can share the load on a big deadline. That way you don’t have to stay up late finishing other tasks.
Accept the Unexpected
Interruptions and sleepless nights will come up from time to time. When they do, don’t dwell on your frustration―that stress can make it even harder to get back into your sleep rhythm. Just accept the interruption, think of it as a temporary lapse, and try again for better sleep the next night. If these interruptions end up becoming a trend, think of what you can do to change the pattern and make it work for you.
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