Did you know that May is Better Sleep Month? All month long the sponsor of this post, the Better Sleep Council, is taking extra steps to teach families about the benefits of quality sleep. In collaboration with the Better Sleep Council, I am so excited to share the “secret” that has been helping me (and my hubby) get those highly sought after 8-hours of shuteye!

Do You Sleep Like a Kid?

I don’t know about you, but every morning my children wake up super happy, rejuvenated, and excited to tackle the day! They’re ages 2 and 4 and they literally bounce off the walls from having such fantastic sleep!

My husband and I, on the other hand, have not always shared their morning enthusiasm. Although we were teaching our kids that sleep is important, we weren’t making it a priority ourselves. We honestly dreaded the moment they rushed into our room each day, giggly and chatty before we even opened our eyes.

It’s no secret that we function better when we’re properly rested. When we are overtired, we’re forgetful, sluggish, moody, and more susceptible to stress and depression. None of these traits are conducive to being an effective parent so we were determined to find a sleep solution that worked for us.

Identifying the Problem

We realized that our biggest struggle, which is likely true for many parents, is disconnecting from technology and allowing our brains to wind down at bedtime.

We definitely understand the necessity of getting sufficient sleep at night, but there’s always the desire to binge-watch our favorite TV shows, surf through social media, or cram a bunch of emails into the last few minutes of the day. You think that it’s the perfect time because the kids are asleep, but it’s really one of the most disruptive things you can do right before your close your eyes.

Turn Everything Off

The Better Sleep Council recommends turning off electronics at least one hour before you go to sleep. This includes your phone, tablet, TV, and computer. Turn everything off and don’t touch it again until the morning! If you’re too tempted to grab your phone, put it out of reach or in another room.

I know that sounds CrAzY, but hear me out!

One reason to turn your devices off is that the lights and sounds send a message to your brain that it’s time to be up. As hard as you’re trying to settle down, your senses are stimulated and think you’re supposed to be awake.

Another reason is that in addition to all of the normal thoughts and stressors you already have in your life, you’re now flooding your mind with brand new information and distractions late at night. Between suspenseful movies, action-packed video games, and your friend’s vacation updates, you can’t possibly filter and process all of that garble in a short amount of time. Shutting down an hour in advance gives your mind time to decompress before falling sleep.

And if you stop responding to those late-night messages from coworkers and friends, they’ll learn to respect your personal time. Put your phone on silent and show them that you’re not available to work or chat when it’s bedtime.

What Do You Do for an Hour?

Anything! You can get a lot done in 60 minutes!

Take a bath, get ready for bed, have time with your spouse, read a book, write in your journal, fold laundry, stretch, meditate, drink tea, color, knit, stare at the ceiling… Whatever you want!

I love reading and always complain about how I never have time to pick up a book. This screen-free hour each night is the perfect opportunity to read without interruptions.

Use the time to unwind and center yourself. Be sure to pick something relaxing and low stress!

It’s Totally Doable

Since we started unplugging an hour earlier, I’ve been dozing off faster and getting better sleep during the night. And when I wake up, I’m ready to be attentive toward my children and more productive throughout the day! It completely makes a difference in my mood and energy!

If the thought of unplugging a whole hour before you sleep seems daunting, don’t worry. I felt the same way in the beginning! You can still make time for electronics after the kids go to bed, just stop using them an hour before you go to sleep.

If you’re not ready to quit electronics cold turkey, start with turning things off 15 minutes before bed and gradually work your way up to an hour. It takes self-control and practice to make a new habit, but the effort certainly pays off when you wake up as refreshed as your four-year-old!

For more ideas to improve your sleep, visit the Better Sleep Council’s website. They have a ton of brilliant resources to help you combat your issues with falling and staying asleep!

Happy Better Sleep Month!

This post is sponsored by the Better Sleep Council, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

What’s your biggest sleep struggle? Leave a comment below and tell me about it!

And to see more about my experience with “momsomnia”, read about it here!

Talk to you soon!