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Motherhood has taught me that getting enough sleep is critical to surviving — and enjoying — my day. Thankfully, there is ZzzQuilâ„¢ to come to the rescue with its non-habit-forming sleep-aid designed to help with occasional sleeplessness. We have partnered with ZzzQuil to bring you this post, so thanks for reading and sharing. I hope these tips help you get some much needed rest.
Within the first few hours of parenting, I had fallen into full scale panic.
How can I be this tiny baby’s MOTHER? I still need my own mother!
How will I know how to soothe him when he cries?
How will we afford to raise him?
And, the question that was perhaps the most terrifying…
WILL I EVER GET TO SLEEP AGAIN???
Yes, the moment I became a parent I realized that sleep was the most precious commodity in the world — and from my current vantage point, I feared I would never be able to get enough of it again.
The seemingly endless cries of my newborn calling me to feed him put me on constant alert.
After a feeding, I would fall into a light, restless sleep — until I heard him cry out. Somehow I would force my body to get up and tend to my baby. But I was in complete agony.
Finally, once I had become delirious with sleep deprivation, I pumped some milk, gave my husband a bottle for the 3am feed, put in ear plugs, and went to sleep for the night.
My baby and I both needed me to get some serious sleep.
My Sleep Secrets
My first baby is now 14 years old. At 5’10”, it is hard to imagine he was ever that squirming little bundle who would never let me rest.
Now that I no longer have babies or toddlers in the house, I get to go to bed at night and sleep until my 6:30am alarm calls me to get up and make sure my kids are up and ready for school.
But those early days of sleep deprivation made a profound impact on my sleep habits – and secrets.
First — I learned to sleep when I need it and when I can get it.
Sleep is a top priority for me. I know that I am not at my best if I am not getting enough sleep.
If I am running on a sleep deficit from working too late at night, (something I do on a regular basis,) I take a nap.
When I had babies, I realized how powerful napping is.
A well timed nap can rescue the day, turning me back into a lucid, productive human being.
Second — I learned to use ear plugs.
When my husband or my mother took over a night-time feeding for me, putting in ear plugs signaled to me that I was OFF DUTY.
I was no longer listening for my baby’s cries. Someone else was in charge.
So now, even if my kids are at school and I am lying down for a nap in a quiet house, I still use ear plugs.
Putting in my ear plugs has become a ritual for me, telling my body that it is time to relax and go to sleep.
Finally — I learned to accept the help of a sleep aid when I need it.
While I miss the cute and cuddly stages of parenting little ones, I must admit, I love that I no longer have to get up in the night with hungry babies.
But, now that my kids are no longer keeping me up during the night, it is my work and travel schedules that are making me lose sleep.
My early days of parenting taught me that that I can’t be a good mother if I am falling apart with exhaustion and that sometimes I need to accept help.
So now, when I have a change in my sleep schedule, or I am traveling and struggling with jet lag, I reach for a sleep aid.
That is why it is so nice to have a sleep aid like ZzzQuil, from the makers of Vicks NyQuil, on hand to help get my body back into a proper sleep schedule when I need it.
ZzzQuil is wonderful for occasional sleeplessness because it is non-habit forming, helps you to fall asleep easily, sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.
I know that when I am traveling or when I have a stressful event coming up, I will have problems falling and staying asleep.
So, making sure I have ZzzQuil on hand is critical for my peace of mind — and my peaceful sleeping. Want to give it a try? Click here for a coupon!
Parenthood is not for the weak — or the sleepy!
I hope these tips for getting enough sleep help you get the rest you need so you can feel and be your best.
Check out these blog posts for more tip on how to bring your best.
A Good Night’s Rest to Bring Your Best by eightymphmom.com
How To Get Your Beauty Sleep by beautybrite.com
Best Beauty Tips by momgenerations.com
Audrey also made this video sharing her beauty tips…
Also, join in on a twitter party hosted by MomGenerations and The Chic Site on February 24th at 8 pm EST.
Share With Your Friends
We’d love, love, love a tweet or a pin… Thanks so much! 🙂
[Tweet “Check out Janice’s top 3 secrets to getting enough sleep…”]
Written by Janice Croze, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at pinterest.com/5minutesformom
Elva Roberts says
i did not take naps in the day time until I had babies and, like you, realized that I had to get enough sleep as my days were busy on a farm.
LIke you, I occasionally take a sleep aid and it is a great help When I suffer from occasional insomnia. Thank you for your sensible tips.
barb g. says
That would have to be myself. I am always excited to get a win anyway!