Why Getting Plenty Of Sleep Makes You A Better Parent
Lets hope you get some amazing sleep!
Much Love
Mumma
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*This is a collaborative post*
February 16, 2018
There’s nothing worse than that feeling when the shrill shriek of the alarm rouses you from your all too brief slumber. Your mouth feels dry and sour, your head feels like you’ve had an altercation with a bull elephant and as much as you know that you’re duty bound to throw aside the covers and start your day, your every instinct screams at you to pull the covers back over your head and let the day pass you by.
This feeling is bad enough when you’re unattached, but when you’re a parent, it’s just the worst. Not only can it make it really difficult to feel like you have any real quality of life, it can also seriously impede your ability to be the best parent that you can be. It’s a horrible feeling that can ruin your day before it’s even started, yet it’s how too many of us begin most days. If this all sounds a little too familiar, it’s time to look at the reasons why getting plenty of sleep (7-9 hours is the gold standard for most full grown adults) can make you a better parent as well as some healthy natural solutions to getting your daily dose of shut eye.
Sleep keeps you feeling and looking young and healthy
When you become a parent, it’s easy to see yourself solely as somebody’s Mom or Dad and feel like you’re losing your identity to your parenthood. Getting plenty of sleep not only helps you to better manage your dual roles as a parent and in your day job, it also keeps you looking and feeling young and healthy. When you sleep, your body produces the collagen that your skin needs to stay plump and useful while also ensuring that your skin and hair get the hydration and nourishment that they need to stay healthy, lustrous and glowing. This will do wonders for your self esteem and make you a happier, more confident parent.
Sleep helps you to concentrate
A lack of sleep can seriously impair concentration and cognitive function. This is problematic whatever age your kids, but if you have a baby, infant or toddler you’re essentially playing Russian roulette with your kids’ safety especially if you get behind the wheel of a car with them. Parenthood (especially new parenthood) requires a number of complex cognitive processes and if you’re waking up feeling sluggish and unable to concentrate you’re unlikely to be at your best when it comes to meeting the myriad demands of a modern parent.
Sleep helps you to keep your calm
We’ve all seen those parents who lose their composure with their kids in public places. Those parents that seem, out of nowhere to snap and scream at their kids before storming away with them, fighting back a flood of tears of shame and frustration. Every parent knows that they’re only a few bad nights’ sleep away from being that parent. Nobody wants to be the kind of parent that’s quick to anger, shouting and corporal punishment. We want to be able to deal with our kids calmly, rationally and reasonably… But that’s really hard when we’re sleep deprived. As well as impairing our cognitive faculties and memories a lack of sleep can make us emotionally volatile, making us quicker to anger and far less rational than we’d like to be.
Sleep keeps you fun
Parenthood is a serious commitment and a lot of hard work, but let’s not forget that it can (or should be) a lot of fun, too! Getting enough sleep can help you to focus on the positives of parenting, allowing you to take pleasure and enjoyment in spending more time with your kids, making you a happier and more fun person to be around.
So, how can you make sure you’re getting yours?
Hopefully, it’s clear how getting your daily dose of shuteye can make you a better parent, but making sure you’re getting yours can be easier said than done, especially when you’re the parent of a newborn.
Make sure that your bedroom is sparsely decorated and full of natural materials like wood, stone and cotton as these can promote restfulness and relaxation. Avoid the use of laptops and tablets in bed and TV should be kept to a minimum too. If you’ve had the same mattress for more than 10 years it’s time to treat yourself to a browse of some luxury mattresses. Never underestimate the importance of a good mattress for a restful and uninterrupted night’s sleep.
Obviously you should try and cut down on stimulants like caffeine and sugar and make sure you’re getting plenty of green veggies and magnesium rich foods like sweet potatoes and nuts. Make sure you’re getting plenty of water and exposure to fresh air and nature.
By getting healthy natural sleep, you’ll notice both your parenting and your quality of life starting to improve.
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