Sleep Time: How To Get Amazing Shut-Eye Tonight!

This post may contain compensated links. Refer to my disclaimer for more info.

Cranky?  Low on Energy?  Bad moods too often throughout the day?  I’m just guessing but you may need a little more sleep timeNot just any sleep, though.  You know, that deep, snoozing-like-its-Sunday-afternoon-during-a-rainstorm kind of sleep.  If we all slept like that on weeknights, I suspect our daytime hours would be a lot different than they are, don’t you???

Sleep Time

I’m encouraging wives during September with helpful hacks to have happier days but here’s the deal.  Often we wives overlook how important it is to get good, quality sleep.  When we ignore the facts, it’s takes a toll on our bodies.  The struggle is real and I speak from experience as a self-proclaimed night owl.  Experts say that quality sleep can affect our health, weight, moods, and even intimacy (or lack thereof) in positive or negative ways.  The choice is ours.

Of course, if you have medical issues concerning your sleep, consult your doctor.  I’m simply sharing hacks for those wifeys that need a clear-cut plan for a ready for bed routine and how to get some great sleep time when you get there!

 

1.  Find out how much sleep you need

I have a little trick that works wonders and I suggest that you experiment a little with it.  It will make a believer out of you, I’m certain.  You’ve probably heard about sleep cycles.  Apparently, if you wake up during one of these cycles, you will feel groggy.  If you wake up in between these cycles, it makes all the difference in the world.

Since each sleep cycle is between 100 and 120 minutes long (there are several of them), the idea is to go to sleep and then wake up at the right time.  Try it tonight – I dare you!  The sleep app that I use is called Sleepy Time Calculator.  It’s free and oh so easy to use.

2.  Be consistent with bedtime

When I don’t pay attention to the clock in the evenings, I catch myself piddling around and before I realize it, it’s midnight.  I’m up with the chickens in the mornings so this is not a good plan for my body – or yours.  Hit the hay at the same time every night, friend.  I know some are working, studying, or taking care of littles, but try to be consistent when you can.

Think about it right now … what is the earliest you can hit the hay after doing only what has to be done tonight?  I suggest that you make a game plan in your mind about the two to three hours that follow dinner and kitchen cleanup.  If you spend that time wisely, you could have amazing family time and also set the stage for some great sleep time.  Here are some quick things you could do.

  • prepare (at least in a small way) for everyone’s breakfast and lunch the next day
  • make sure everyone’s clothes are ready for the next day
  • gather at the door everything that you can that will need to go out the door the next morning (keys, purses, briefcases, backpacks)
  • look over the extra-curricular activities for the next day and have conversations or mental preparations
  • tidy up


What in the world do these tips that I listed have to do with sleep time? If we finish the chores of today and prepare for tomorrow, our wife brains to be able to relax a little more.  Having a few preps in place typically help women rest a little easier.

3.  Create a cozy sanctuary

This is an area I have always struggled in but I’m not letting it be an excuse anymore.  My bedroom is no longer a dumping ground for items from other parts of the house that I don’t know what to do with.  I’m also making my frugal self actually purchase items now and then that make our room cozy.  New bedding one month (this was actually a gift), furniture that makes me smile (DIY chalk paint does wonders), pretty accent pillows, nice window treatments, the right lighting, etc, make all the difference.

How amazing would it be if we created the most luxurious and cozy bed known to man?  Make it happen!  Then look around at what you could do to soften the atmosphere in your room that surrounds the bed.  Is it cluttered?  Get rid of stuff.  Is it stark?  Add paint, lamps, or accessories that will lighten the mood.

Another cozy aspect is the sound in your bedroom.  Experts say we shouldn’t have the TV on when we are going to sleep (guilty!) or be on electronics right before trying to doze off.  They say that both of these are stimulants and keep us from resting fully.  I propose to experiment whether complete darkness and silence work for you.  Sometimes, I love the sound of white noise and planning to try out a Portable White Noise Sound Machine because it is so amazing.

 

4.  Stop eating and exercise

What in the world, you say?  All I’m reminding myself and you is that it takes about two hours or so for our food to digest.  If you are eating right before you go to bed, your bod isn’t going to be in sleep mode, it’s still having to work hard.  Don’t drink after that time either because you know you’ll be heading to the bathroom during the night.

It always amazes me during the seasons that I consistently exercise how ready to go to bed I am each night.  When we are moving our bodies like we should, the body is tired and rests better.  Get moving sister, at least a little bit if you can’t sleep at night!

5.  Take something to help you sleep

I believe in medicine when it is absolutely necessary but I’d rather rely on natural means whenever possible.  Many people swear by the natural herb, melatonin for excellent sleep time.  We haven’t used melatonin but are in love with Clear Mood.  It’s a natural supplement containing only three main ingredients that help support relaxation – Griffonia Simplicifolia, L-Theanine, and Magnolia Officinalis.  Consult your doctor about taking natural remedies like these.

Sleep Time

Do you already use these sleep time hacks?  Share in the comments!

Make sure that you are subscribed so that you won’t miss all the WifeLife encouragement (you’ll also automatically receive a short, helpful read about less chaos & more calm when you confirm your subscription!). Follow along daily with The How-to Guru Facebook page , Twitter, and/orInstagram.

Others you may enjoy:

Homemakers Challenge

Easy Pumpkin Recipes

Encouraging September!

How I save money FAST at Kroger

See Married Life as a Joy not a Ball & Chain

31 Days of Delicious Easy Recipes for Busy Wives




 
Follow:
Shan

Published on HuffPost, Okefenokee Living Magazine, and more, Shan is a Family Travel Journalist with a passion for helping women lose the overwhelm of planning family-friendly trips in the south. She shares travel reviews & insider secrets that Women REALLY want to know about Georgia, Florida, & the Carolinas vacations.

☕️ It’s THE REAL DEAL around here ☕️

Share:

19 Comments

  1. Jamie
    September 12, 2016 / 2:40 am

    Definitely needed this! Sleep doesn’t always come easy for me!

    • Shan
      Author
      September 12, 2016 / 10:39 am

      It’s a great reminder for me too, Jamie! I can sleep VERY well, but making myself settle down and go to sleep is the trick! 🙂

      blessings,
      Shan

  2. Aditi Singh
    September 20, 2016 / 7:41 am

    Those are some great tips. Sleep is a struggle; specially with little ones constantly harassing you through the night. Sigh !!!

  3. Jen
    September 20, 2016 / 8:06 am

    Good advice! I think poor sleep is a problem for so many people (including me!)

  4. NinaO
    September 20, 2016 / 8:34 am

    I have a rigorous sleeping routine and if I don’t follow it exactly, I can’t fall asleep until I make it right. Some of the steps are plain silly, but there you have it. 😀

  5. Vaishnavi
    September 20, 2016 / 9:51 am

    I’ve been ignoring this for a while now. Although I sleep tight when I do, this is a much needed reminder to get back to being reasonable with my sleeping habits.

    Cool hacks for people who sleep light!

  6. Miri
    September 20, 2016 / 10:26 am

    Wow, 1) is interesting. I’ve never considered calculating according to sleep cycles. I’ll have to give this a try (since I wake up at five it tells me “8:00 PM or 9:30 PM or 11:00 PM or 12:30 AM” as times to fall asleep! 🙂

  7. Allison M. Webb
    September 20, 2016 / 1:26 pm

    I’ve used melatonin, but what worked better was a simple breathing technique, repeated for a few minutes. Great post with some very helpful ideas!

  8. Suzanne Hines
    September 20, 2016 / 2:44 pm

    This is a fabulous list! I also highly recommend turning off technology and reading a good book for at least 10 minutes before going to sleep! It has made such a huge difference in my sleep in the last year!

  9. Jazz
    September 20, 2016 / 5:40 pm

    Thanks for this post! I already use the white noise hack and it’s quite helpful. I can pretty much sleep anytime, anywhere but have lately been glued to my phone or laptop screen all the way up until bedtime and then…I can’t fall asleep for awhile (go figure!) so I’ve got to work on cutting myself off at a certain time to get the most quality rest.

  10. Melissa
    September 20, 2016 / 8:44 pm

    I need to bookmark this and constantly come back to it! Both me and the hubby have sleep issues! We have started going to bed at or around the same time and it is helping but I think the other tips combined with that will really help!!

  11. Jessica Foley
    September 23, 2016 / 8:55 pm

    These are great tips! I’m a person who needs 8 hours to really feel rested. Lately I’ve had to really try to get to bed with enough time left to get that much sleep. I wish I had more time in the evenings, but sometimes I have to leave the dished un-done so I can help the kids with homework and bedtimes and then get to bed at a good time. It’s hard to fit everything in after working all day. Thanks for sharing!
    #Alittlebitofeverything

  12. Tami Qualls
    September 24, 2016 / 11:55 am

    My sleep is not what it used to be. I may try some of these suggestions on my little guy. Once he’s sleeping better, then I will be able to.

  13. Sue Donaldson
    September 27, 2016 / 12:02 pm

    will work on our bedroom today! thanks for great tips.

  14. Charlotte Burkholder
    September 29, 2016 / 7:36 am

    Definitely need more sleep!Thanks for sharing on Family Joy Blog Link-up. Please come back and join us again! Remember to leave your host a comment to increase the chance of being featured

  15. Leanna
    September 29, 2016 / 11:25 am

    I think lack of sleep is at epidemic proportions. I don’t require more than six hours sleep, but I find even that hard to fit in sometimes. I will give your suggestions a try. Thanks for the insights.

  16. Lauren
    October 8, 2016 / 1:27 pm

    Wow! The sleepy time calculator is absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing.
    I can finally be more organized with my sleep!

  17. Lauren
    October 15, 2016 / 3:33 am

    Wow, that sleepyti.me is awesome! I’ll definitely use it.

    Cheers

    • Shan
      Author
      October 15, 2016 / 3:06 pm

      I love it, Lauren! Hope you do too. The simplicity is my favorite part.

      Blessings,
      Shan

Verified by MonsterInsights