May is finally here. And us fine people of Boston are saying hello (more like shouting it at this point) to warmer weather, blooming flowers, walks along the Charles and…better sleep?! Yup, May is Better Sleep Month. A whole entire month dedicated to helping people sleep better – from itty bitty babies to grandma and grandpa.
So, what’s the big to-do about sleeping better anyway? I mean, that’s what coffee and sleeping with your eyes open while pretending to be interested in your toddler’s umpteenth episode of Sesame Street are for. Uh, so I hear.
Sure, you can exist on a couple hours of sleep, but experts say it makes you more irritable, eat more (eek!) and lose your focus. It can also make your work ethic, sense of judgment and concentration take a nose dive. Not so great when you’re a full time employee and manager.
We should ideally be getting about 8 hours of sleep a night. With a toddler, I can solemnly swear that’s virtually impossible. I often wonder about these so called “experts” – do they have kids of their own? I mean who can get 8 hours of sleep with a teething, cranky toddler hanging off of your leg screaming “mama” at 3 in the morning?
I’m no expert, but I’m pretty serious about my sleep. I’ve changed a few things about my routine that help me catch those precious Z’s.
First, I got serious about my bed. I know that sounds ridiculous. But if I was spending 50+ hours in it a week, it better feel like I’m sleeping on a fluffy cloud. So, a year or so ago the hubs and I sprung for a king sized, posturepedic bed and pillows. We also invested in super soft satiny sheets. Climbing into bed is seriously like a slice of heaven.
Oh, and immediately after moving into our condo (oh hi there loud neighbor downstairs!), we bought a white noise machine to help drown everything out. Our 2 family was built in 1920, so the insulation isn’t great. We also got black out blinds and curtains. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest home improvement store and buy both. And pick up a pair (or twelve) for your kid’s room while you’re at it.
Another thing that has helped is powering off before bed. No TV, no phone, no tablet. No kidding. Electronics made it harder for me to fall asleep – so now I rely on good old fashioned books and magazines to get me drowsy.
Those are a few of the things I do to get some better sleep. They’re not always foolproof, but they have definitely helped.
So tell me, what are you tricks?
