sleep tips

Tired and Stressed? Try These 3 Tips to Help You Get the Sleep You Need

May 4, 2017 by Kathryn 20 Comments

When I was younger, I had some pretty serious issues with insomnia. Some nights, I’d drift quickly and easily off to sleep without a second thought. Other nights, I’d find myself tossing and turning for hours on end, finally falling into a light doze only to suddenly wake up unsure if I’d ever been asleep at all.

For the most part, the fun and exhaustion of children solved my issues with insomnia and ended up being the best sleep aid. After a long day of running after my boys, I’m sometimes lucky to make it into bed with my eyes still open! But there are still occasional days when the insomnia takes over again. And when that happens, these are the three tips I’ve discovered over the years that help me get the rest I need!

Find a Mantra

One of the best sleep aids I’ve discovered for those nights when I’m feeling tired but can’t quite make the jump from sleepy to actually asleep is repeating an easy mantra in my head while doing some deep breathing. Often, it’s a phrase as simple as “I’m falling asleep, I’m falling asleep,” repeated over and over as I take each breath. Within ten minutes, I’ll usually be fast asleep. And as an added bonus, I’ve found that adding a motivating goal to my mantra (such as plans to exercise or catch up on work) helps me tackle that goal with more energy the next morning! [Read more…]

Five Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep from the National Sleep Foundation and P&G

March 11, 2014 by Kathryn 123 Comments

A good night’s sleep is something that is simultaneously essential and elusive for so many parents. Whether we’re struggling to get our children to sleep or trying to get a proper night’s rest ourselves, we tend to have problems getting the sleep we need. Recently I flew to Cincinnati for a very special P&G All Access Day on the Science of Sleep and it was absolutely fascinating. If you’ve ever struggled with getting a proper night’s sleep, these five tips from the National Sleep Foundation are a great way to start developing proper sleep habits.

1) Create A Routine

It’s not just children that benefit from a bedtime routine! Creating a ritual that’s performed every night before bed, whether it’s taking a warm bath or sipping a cup of herbal tea, is a great way to train the body to start winding down and preparing for sleep. Find a routine that works for you and remember that it doesn’t need to be complicated. Even fifteen minutes every night with a good book can be a great relaxing end to the day before bed. [Read more…]

Baby Sleep Schedule – Three Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

February 22, 2014 by Kathryn 32 Comments

The day my oldest son was born, my days of sleeping in until noon ended forever. But it wasn’t just my own sleep that became an issue once I had children. I had to learn about the baby sleep schedule of my boys as well.

And understanding the sleep needs of a newborn is no easy thing! All babies sleep differently, so learning what works best can be difficult! These were the three tips that helped me ensure my boys were sleeping properly.

Set a Regular Bedtime

I knew that babies under a year old needed lots of food and lots of sleep, so when I had my first son, I followed his cues as to when he wanted to eat and sleep. But as he reached about six months old, I found that I was staying up with him later and later. In fact, he’d often be up until one in the morning, sleep just a few hours and then be up again at five in the morning. Needless to say, I was a zombie.

Finally somebody convinced me of the importance of a regular bedtime even for babies. The first two days were hard, but after a week I couldn’t believe the difference. I only wish I’d set a baby sleep schedule from the very beginning! [Read more…]