My daughter sleeps at least 13 hours a night. Uninterrupted. She also naps 2+ hours a day. She recently turned one and is doing all sorts of cool stuff, like walking and talking. I know that she really needs her sleep to help with proper development.
Since my daughter’s birth, I have a new appreciation for sleep. The first few months of motherhood involved major sleep deprivation. I was on a high from giving birth to this beautiful creature, but exhausted beyond words. There was literally nothing that I would rather have done than sleep. During those early months, I chose sleeping over eating, showering, and exercising. Luckily, my daughter settled into a great sleeping routine after a few months, and I was able to do the same.
It has been so interesting to observe my daughter’s sleeping over this past year. If she is tired, she becomes cranky and irritable, and it affects her eating habits. After a 2-3 hour of nap, she wakes up with a huge smile on her face and full of energy. Even a catnap in the car raises her mood. I have a new appreciation of sleep from both my own experiences this past year, as well as from watching how sleep affects my daughter. I fully believe that getting enough sleep and having good sleep habits is undoubtedly one of the most important ways to be healthy.
The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep a night, although the specific amount is different for everyone. I feel pretty good on 7 hours of sleep, but I honestly prefer 8. Most American adults sleep 6 hours a night. Sleep is a time for your body to rest and recover from the day, and there are many specific health benefits to sleep. Getting enough shut-eye has been found to improve memory, promote weight loss, strengthen the immune system, and prevent certain diseases.
Our bodies need sleep in the same way that we need to eat and breathe. Sleep is essential human function. Despite this, sleep is not a priority for many people. Family and friends are constantly complaining about not getting enough sleep. I know it is difficult. There are so many distractions keeping us from sleeping enough: iPhones, Facebook, TV, laundry, dishes, blogging etc. We live in a society that does not encourage sleep. This is something that I struggle with too. However, I am well aware of how important sleep is for my body and health. I recently implemented a rule that I won’t do any work (including blogging) after 10:30 pm. This is intended to support an 11pm bedtime, which allows for at least 8 hours of sleep a night, depending on when my daughter wakes up in the morning. Although I don’t alway get to bed on time, I am strict about my 10:30 pm rule. After all, there is always tomorrow to get things done. I find that getting enough sleep makes me a better wife, mother, friend and teacher. It is essential to both my health and happiness.
I have always been a good sleeper, but I realize that many struggle to sleep through the night. Some ways to help with insomnia and night wakings include avoiding caffeine, steering clear of electronic devices before bedtime, only using your bed and/or bedroom to sleep, not having a TV in your bedroom, sticking to a bedtime/wakeup schedule, and drinking certain teas before bed (like chamomile).
Making sleep a priority is one of the best changes you can make for better health. If you are looking to make changes in your sleep schedule, you can start with something small, like shifting your regular bedtime back 10 minutes. After a few weeks, perhaps you will be able shift it back earlier. So, allow yourself those extra minutes of sleep. It will make a difference in how you feel. This is a way to be kind to your body.
Even though she is only a toddler, my daughter makes sleep a priority. Watching her embrace sleep reminds me to do the same.
Leave a Reply