HEALTH & WELLBEING

How to Get Through The Day When You Would Rather Sleep

One way or another you’ll make it through 😴

Sleep is Mother Nature’s best effort yet to counter death. – Matthew Walker

Whether you were up 20 times with a newborn or had awful vivid dreams or stayed up doing this that or whatever, this might help.

Often I find myself choosing to spend more time with my partner after the kids get to bed.

In the morning I would love to go back to sleep 😴 When I was a SAHM, and they were off to school, I did… But now don’t have the option, the kids need to get to school and I need to work or do groceries or whatever.

I’ve been experimenting on myself and these are what works on those days you’d rather sleep.

Hopefully, they work for you too 😁

Take it One Step at a time

All you need to do is get out of bed. Then all you need to do is boil the kettle… Then spoon coffee into your cup. You get the idea.

When you feel like this looking too far ahead can be a burden. Obsession with future preparations can be fantastic — Sometimes, others it much weigh you down so much taking even a step forward feels like running a triathlon.

Slow down, even if it’s just today. Focus on today only.

You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Likely, you know the next step, do only that.

Write it down

Now I am a huge list person. If it was ever in my head I probably have a correlated list.

If you read the tip above and went ‘hang on! But I have sooooo much to do today.’

Stop.

So maybe you do. But you absolutely do not need to do it all right now. Research has shown multitasking to be far less effective for both tasks anyways 🤷‍♀️

Sit down with paper, dig In your head for all that you need to do- and dump them on said paper. If there are items that can wait till tomorrow – let them wait!

It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials. – Bruce Lee

I try and chose 1–3 non-negotiable to-dos such as eating getting a protein out for dinner or making an important call.

Then pop a star ⭐️ next to them. I suggest this to stop overwhelm.

That way if not all the items on the list happen today you know your priorities – and can feel good about crossing off the important and urgent stuff.

Think about the tomorrow to dos tomorrow. They aren’t your concern today.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Plan when you will get to sleep again and put it on a shelf

I know I said don’t plan too far ahead, this is different, it’s a self-care date you’re blocking out for your sanity.

Right now you can’t sleep for whatever reason. Instead, book in your sleep date and put it on a shelf for safekeeping.

My friend makes a deal with herself that if she finishes her 20 minutes of study or put away the washing first, then she can nap.

Another sleeps in her car on her lunch break. 25 minute refreshes her!

However, you choose to book it in, do it, then put it on a shelf. That way it’s still in sight but you can’t have it right now.

Remember, if you’ve accumulated a massive sleep debt, a nap won’t fix it. A nap won’t replace a regular sleep routine.

Sleep Date not an option?

Plan ahead to get yourself in bed on time tonight.

Or slightly earlier. And tomorrow perhaps set some time to read on sleep hygiene.

If nothing else works put to sleep as a top priority after your hectic day. You’ll get there, promise 💕

Again, I can’t help myself, I have to recommend Matthew Walker's Book 📖 “Why We Sleep”, which was incredible. If you want to learn more about sleep hygiene and the effects of poor sleep, start there.

Takeaway 🥡

Couldn’t be bothered to read the rest huh? Here’s a quick summary:

• Think no further than your next step, take the day one by one ☝️
• Dump all your to-dos on paper 📝. Pick 2–3 that absolutely must happen today. Focus on them. Everything else can wait for tomorrow after you’ve had more sleep.
• Block out a, sleep date with yourself. Knowing when we can get back to sleep can help us keep going.
• Don’t have time for car naps? Prioritise and book in getting to bed at a reasonable time tonight, perhaps a little earlier.
• Look at revamping your sleep hygiene if wanting to sleep is your daily pain.

If you would rather sleep for a deeper reason like struggling with low moods or depression. Speaking from experience, these will still help. Just tuned down a little.

Still take it one step at a take but instead of a list, try a brain dump. Using morning pages can really refresh your brain.

If you would rather sleep because you are depressed, please stop expecting so much from yourself. Please, all I needed in the depths was to hear this.

If all you can do is get out of bed today. So be it. You got out of bed! Well, f*cking done!

If you didn’t, so what? Seriously be kind to yourself and only do what you can handle.

Bridie Dillon, Throwing Words into the Universe. Creator of Youness-ness.

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