Sleep hacks for parents.
Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
Taking care of kids while working a full-time job, can feel hectic and stressful. Now with quarantine, many parents have been taking on the role of teacher as well. Your days can feel exhausting and sometimes sleep does not come so easy. With stress brought on by the news and kids, it can feel impossible to get the quality of sleep you need. To help, the sleep experts at Casper rounded of some of the best sleep hacks for parents.
Tag team night duty
There is no reason that you should be handling night duty on your own. Have you and your partner take turns putting the kids to bed. Use the extra time you have to create a relaxing bedtime routine that is all your own.
Cut back on sugar
Yes, it can be great to indulge in sugary sweets with the kids before bed, but that habit could be hurting your sleep. Sugar has a stimulating effect that causes your metabolism to work harder during the night, resulting in you waking up several times to use the restroom. Instead, stick to light and healthy meals before bed such as fish, turkey, and vegetables.
Practice gratitude
If you have a habit of lying in bed, mulling over the laundry list of to-dos you have to handle the next day you’re not alone. However, lying in bed and stressing will only make it harder for you to fall asleep. Instead, try practicing gratitude.
Grateful thinking has been shown to help people sleep better and longer. One great way to do this is by keeping a gratitude journal. One study even found that people who kept gratitude journals slept an average of 30 mins longer. Gratitude journals are a great way to unwind and reflect on your day. You can also involve your kids in the process and make it a family activity! To help, we’ve included a gratitude journal printable + fun stickers to go along with it.
Just print them out and make it a part of your nightly routine! You and the kids will be dozing off to dreamland in no time.
