Being a mother is a full time job in itself. Make sure your kids are fed, do their homework, take them to and from play, are behaving, are safe, and much more. Then when you combine this with trying to start a business, you have no time left in the day, and a million more things to do! Mompreneurs seriously have to be some of the hardest workers on the planet! And although it can seem exhausting to raise kids and grow a business at the same time, you have a secret weapon in your arsenal that will help you move forward and achieve your goals each day — sleep.
Why is sleep so important to a mom entrepreneur?
Those who do not get enough sleep at night pay for it during the day. You are foggy headed, moody, irritable, forgetful, cannot concentrate, tired and lack the necessary energy. The old saying “the midnight burn” doesn’t apply to women who manage a family and a business. You need to be on. You need to be sharp and focused. It’s better for you to do 6 hours of highly focused work a day (maybe when your kids are at school) than 8 hours of unfocused work. If you get enough sleep, you’ll be more productive, get more done, healthier, happier, and more enjoyable for your family.
So without further ado, here are 9 sleep hacks every mompreneur should follow to make sure they’re getting enough high-quality sleep so they can crush the next day, and go to bed that night feeling great. can do that they have made a difference.
1. get up early
Chances are that if you have kids, you set a strict bedtime schedule for them. And depending on their age, this bedtime is probably too early. So lead by example, and go to bed at the same time with them. That way you can get up much earlier and make the most of the day. You can get a few hours of productive work done before the kids even get out of bed! And don’t worry if you don’t feel tired at night. Forcing yourself to wake up early will make you more tired at night, and after a few nights of this you’ll be in a good sleep routine where you’re up early, drinking coffee, and kicking butt!
2. Stop drinking alcohol at night
Wine is certainly a good way to unwind at the end of the day. But it also completely messes with your sleep cycle. It elevates your heart rate while you sleep, and prevents you from reaching your deep REM sleep cycle which is so restful. You’ll also have more difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, and you won’t feel nearly as sharp, and therefore won’t be as productive. Try saving a drink for the end of the week when you’ve “won the week” through being highly productive, or just cut it out altogether!
3. Turn on “do not disturb” your phone while you sleep
Chances are you’re getting emails, Slacks, social media notifications, etc. at any time of the day – even in the middle of the night. Even if your phone is on “vibrate,” the vibration and light it emits when your phone lights up is enough to wake everyone in the room. This will knock you out of deep sleep, and can make you much less productive the next day. That’s why you need to set your phone to “do not disturb” when you’re sleeping. That way you can tackle all the information when you wake up in the morning and feel great!
4. Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses Before Sleeping
It has become so common to be on your computer, iPad, or phone before bed to read last minute emails, comments on your blog, check sales, or whatever it is. The problem with doing this right before bed is that the blue light emitted from your devices prevents your brain from producing melatonin, the hormone needed for sleep. And before you go to sleep we totally want to check your business, just try using blue blocker glasses to prevent the blue light emitted from your devices from shutting down your melatonin production. You’ll sleep much better.
5. Avoid napping during the day
Sorry sister, but napping during the day can actually make it difficult for you to sleep at night. This creates a domino effect where you fall asleep later, and then miss out on your early morning wake-up call, and consequently the rest of your day is ruined because you snoozed the day before.
6. Try to have a consistent sleeping schedule
Going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning taps into your body’s circadian rhythm, making it a million times easier for you to go to bed and wake up in the morning. This is actually one of the greatest sleep hacks out there, because once you have a routine down, sleep stops being something you think about or prepare for. This happens naturally, because you train your body’s internal clock by doing it consistently. If your sleep and wake times are sporadic, your circadian rhythm will be thrown off and you won’t be able to function at 100% every day.
7. Write before sleeping
Writing before bed can be very therapeutic. And because it gets your mind on a track of focus, it can help you fall asleep. For moms, this is a good habit to develop every night because it allows you to write down what you accomplished today and your goals for tomorrow. This can be an extremely productive aspect of your night time routine.
8. Exercise During The Day
Running a business is all about keeping your energy levels high so you can stay productive. Working out for 30 minutes per day not only increases your endorphins, but it’s good for your mind, and will actually make you more focused and productive in the long run. Best of all, studies show that people who exercise for at least 15-30 minutes a day get a better night’s sleep, so get your exercise on! If you are feeling lazy or lethargic during the day, go for 30 minutes of jogging. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel when you come back, and it’ll also give you time to brainstorm about your business. Plus you’ll sleep a lot better! HUGE ROI for working out each day!
9. Make Sure You Have a Comfortable Bed Setup
No matter how much you prepare yourself for a good night’s sleep with the methods we mentioned above, if your sleeping arrangement is not comfortable for you, you will not be able to sleep well. That’s why we’ve recommended making sure everything from your mattress to your sheets to your pillows is comfortable. A comfortable pillow, or a mattress that’s just right, can make all the difference in the world. You sink right in and fall asleep faster as opposed to spending hours trying to get comfortable and fall asleep in a setup that’s no good.
wrapping up
Being a mompreneur requires more focus and energy than a regular entrepreneur, as you have a family and children to look after and take care of. That’s why nurturing your ultimate power – your daily energy level – is so important. And the number one way to make sure you have plenty of energy each day is to get enough sleep. Everything from setting up a nighttime routine, setting your phone to “do not disturb,” to achieving a restful sleep setup will help guarantee that you have the energy to accomplish all of your goals. There is abundance of!
About the Author:
Jennifer Hardy, Sleeping Better Dot
Jennifer is a stay at home mom with 2 kids who is an active contributor to SleepingBetter.co. She’s been researching sleep science for years and is all about creating the perfect sleep sanctuary for yourself because she knows how powerful a good night’s sleep can be on your health and beauty. She loves writing on everything from pillow reviews to covering the latest in sleep science.