How to Get More Sleep

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We all know how important sleep is for us. It helps our body heal, aids with digestion, and keeps us looking youthful, to name a few. The problem is, life always feels so busy, so it's really easy to put sleep at the bottom of the priority list. 

One of my New Years Resolutions (see full post here) is to sleep more. Now I'll be honest with you, I haven't been very good with keep up this with resolution because I always find that I prioritize and value sleep less than everything else I have to get done on any given day. But is putting my health last really a good long term habit to have? Probably not! So, I'm creating a list of things I can do each day to ensure I get more sleep. I hope these can help you too if you're finding that you're not sleeping enough overall and needs some help making it a priority in your life! 

1. Be realistic with your daily goals. If you're a planner or list maker like I am, make sure you're not creating a list that is impossible to achieve in one day. Spread things out over the week and weekend so you don't create pressure on yourself to get it all done in one night! 

2. Accept that there are only 24 hours in day. I always find myself stating aloud "I wish there we're more hours in the day". Well the cold reality is there isn't, and no matter how hard I wish for that to change, it won't. I need to accept that there is only so much that can get done in a 24 hour period and be okay with it! The saying "Rome wasn't built in a day" exists for a reason, so apply it to your own life and except that time creates limitations. 

3. Have a wind down period. I don't know about you, but at the end of the day, I need 30 minutes to an hour of doing something completed unrelated to any of the work I do.  I usually watch a bit of Netflix or some online window shopping. If it's been a really busy day and I don't have time for that, a nice warm shower really helps me relax and get ready for bed.

4. Set a time each day to start getting ready for bed. If you know it takes your 30 minutes to complete your night-time routine, shut it all down at a certain time every night to ensure you're in bed at a reasonable hour. 

5. No screen time before bed. I'm a nurse, I should know better but I am so guilty of having electronics like my phone or iPad on and used right until I fall asleep. It's proven to decrease your REM sleep, which is the deep sleep that allows you to really rest, heal and recuperate! My goal is to starting reading actual books (not an E-book because those are still screens!) or magazines before bed to help wind down, or spend some time talking to the hubby! 

I know I will be working hard over the next year to make these goals happen because ultimately without my health, all the success in the world won't matter. So take care of yourself, accept time restraints and get some sleep! 

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