Getting more sleep~

Back in the day I had tons of me time. Time to shop, time to hang out with my friends, time to watch TV, or just to simply sit in solitude and gather my thoughts. Ahhhhh but alas…I got married, popped out 3 kids and the days of “ME” time are few and far in between and when I do manage to get some me time it usually comes at the expense of sleep. The only time I can get that time for DEZ is usually late at night after the kids are in bed and then comes time for my “wifely duties” ßgrown folks talk! Nighttime is  my absolute favorite time of the day because it’s quiet-and living in Kentucky, it’s even more quite than when I was in Michigan. It’s not just quiet out here, it’s really peaceful and pretty! I’m ready to go home but I’m going to miss the peacefulness of the blue grass state. I love to snuggle up in bed and watch a good movie. BUT!!! Doing so usually makes me want to snack and veggies just ain’t the same as microwave popcorn and a soda; I’m just being honest here. Not only that, my days are jam packed nowadays. I’m still working full time and it’s SUPER stressed at my current job for more reasons that just the work itself. When I get off work, I have 2 boys to attend to, then there’s my Zumba rehearsals, and research for my business. I’ve got calls to return because I’m not allowed to have my cell phone on during business hours. I miss a TON of important calls because of this and by the time I get off work, most of the places are closed! REALLY????

So I decided to go old school like momma used to do; I can only stay up late on Friday night. Saturday is optional because I hate being sleepy for church on Sunday. I’m past the whole “gotta go out on Saturdays” thing; been there, done that. Shoot, even when I call myself trying to hang out, I’m sleepy by 10 pm so I might as well stay home. *LOL* My plan was tough at first because the day I decided to take my butt to bed at a decent hour, I promise you, every great movie that ever was created was on TV that night. I set the DVR and took my butt to bed anyway. By the third day I felt so much better in general; happier even!

Your body needs sleep plain and simple. Sleep is time for your body to recharge and heal from the day’s events and if you’ve had an extremely taxing day you might need to go down a little earlier. You know how you can tell that a child is sleepy because he/she is acting up and after the nap all is better?? Well adults are the same way! Get more sleep and watch your blood pressure go down. Get more sleep and watch the numbers on the scale go down. Get more sleep and see how much better you feel in general.

It all starts with a bedtime ritual that you must adhere to no matter what, and give yourself a definite bedtime too.! I stop eating, turn off the TV, and all my electronic devices at least an hour before I go to bed and I also shower or bathe with some kind of chamomile shower gel or soap to help set the sleep mood. Reading is also a great way to unwind and relax your mind; ok my Nook is the electronic exception to this rule =)

Spray your sheets with calming bed spray, light calming scented candles, and dim the lights. Routine is EVERYTHING and just like we use stimulants to rev us up in the morning i.e. coffee, we need things to calm us back down at night. One more note to my married peeps; get your “relations” in a little earlier as well. It might sound funky but if you’re well rested then you’ll have the energy to handle your bizness and that’s better than half doing things in the middle of the night because you’re beyond exhausted and stressed! I hope this post helps somebody in one way or another because it sure has done marvtastic things for me!  

~@^_^@~  Sweet dreams to all  ~@^_^@~