Last week, I had many things I wanted to do. I do not like to use the word “busy”, I usually just say I have many things going on which is great. I usually do have a full scheduled, here is the thing though, there is nothing on this scheduled that I do not choose to put there. If I do not feel it is in line with my goals, and if I feel I need to say no to make sure I get sleep I say no.
Not many understand that. I have noticed that the world seems be be more focused on being “busy” and lack of sleep as a badge of honor almost. If someone does say they get sleep people are quick to judge them. I want to add here too, I know there are seasons people due get less sleep. You have a new baby and they get up a lot I completely get that.
I am more thinking of people who fill their schedules so full they forget about the importance of sleep. The person that stays up until midnight watching TV or mindlessly scrolling social media instead of going to bed. I am guilty of that as well, but I am also try to be intentional about my sleep.
I heard this said from my confidence coach and I try hard to remember it when I know I need to get myself to bed but I would much rather watch TV or scroll social media. She said “You have to parent yourself”, just like you have to tell kids turn the TV and go to bed you have to do that for yourself. Like kids, we do not always listen but I know when I can get myself to listen and get to sleep on time I feel so much better my whole day.
My goal every night is to get 7.5 hours of sleep because I know that is when I feel the best and am the most productive. With the half marathon training I am doing, which side not I ran only 1 days this week and cannot wait for the training to be done. I know the more sleep I get the better to help my feel energized for my run. Some days this looks like me going to bed with lights off between 7:30pm-8:00pm. This is not easy, but since my hubby gets up early for work anyways we are both usually in bed at the same time which helps.
Going to bed at this time is way out of the normal for most people, especially people my age. I do tend to get judged a lot about it also. I get comments all the time about my early bedtime, but I truly think they only judge me because they are jealous. I think, people see others getting sleep and wish they could have that discipline. There are weeks too that if I have activities I am choosing to do and will have me up later at night then normal, I try hard to them make it more of a priority too balance that by going to bed at a good time the other days.
Last week, I did not do this well. I did not parent myself well and I would get in bed on time but would turn the TV on or scroll social media way too long. It caused my to get off my night routine a bit and not do my night prayers and mediation like I want to either. I also noticed that I did not feel at my best. I did not have the energy or the mental focus I had previous weeks when I got sleep. I let me nutrition fall a bit and pretty much ate whatever I wanted, which tends to happen to me when I do not sleep as well.
So, this week it is back to game on. I am going to focus on my sleep, and hope my girls do not wake me up in the morning fighting. I am also going to focus on the water. I know both of these things will help me be at my best, when I am well rested and have better nutrition all of the rest of the things I need to get done in my week are easier.
I challenge you to both find the amount of sleep you need for you to feel at your best. For me, I have learned it was 7.5 hours but that may not be for you. Maybe you feel best at 7 hours great shoot this week to hit that goal 3 days. I encourage you to think about how much you talk about the lack of sleep you get, why do you feel you have to talk about it? I encourage you to be more mindful of your words and see if there is another way you can phrase. Even if you did not get the sleep you want you can say it in a positive way, when I do not meet my sleep goal I tell myself I got the exact amount of sleep I needed to give me the energy I need to get through the day.
The last thing, stop judging other people. The beauty in this world is that we are all different. We all have different priorities and different dreams and that is amazing. Let them do what is best for them and you do what you know is the best thing for you.
Just be kind!
Kimberly Van Iperen 