Mama, Get Some Sleep!

Daylight Savings Time came back around. I never have understood why we switch the time twice a year. This was the one where we lost an hour of sleep and I’m over it. Waking up to my body feeling like it’s an hour earlier than the clock says, isn’t exactly my favorite. Mamas need some sleep!

Speaking of losing sleep….be kind to yourself when it comes to getting enough rest. It’s tempting to keep pushing and run on fumes, but it isn’t worth it. It will mess with your emotions, make it easier to give in to anxiety, skew your perspective and make you grouchy. 

It can even impact your immune system and affect your decision-making skills.

A few days ago I decided to lie down in the afternoon for a few minutes and woke up 2 ½ hours later. My mind and body felt so much better that I’ve been thinking about sleep and rest ever since. 

There was a time when I felt guilty if I rested, or if I went to bed with things undone. My worth was based on performance, and it was a never-ending hamster wheel. 

Eventually the wheel fell off and the hamster (me) escaped. Of COURSE performance still tries to sneak in, but it doesn’t take long to remember why it’s a trap.

Do a little inventory, especially if you’re adjusting to Daylight Savings Time or a new time zone while traveling. The “loss” of that hour might reveal an out-of-proportion sleep deficit. Maybe start your bedtime routine a half hour earlier and go from there. 

It’s easy to get distracted and un-intentional about our rest and sleep. Do yourself a favor. Give rest and sleep some focus for a season and see what it does for you.