Let’s get right to it
Sleep. Without it I can’t think straight. Seriously, just ask my hubby. Or my kids. Or my fellow coaches
Sadly, lack of or poor sleep doesn’t just make us feel like crap, it also affects hormones, weight gain, mood, self-esteem, energy, motivation, decision making, and much more
I know we can all agree it is super important. But so elusive.
Up until about five years ago I was a “night person” without the benefit of sleeping in. SO that would mean I would go to bed at about 1am and get up (after snoozing 5-10 times) at the last minute rushing out of the house, running late with both kids. Armed with about 5 ½ hours sleep. Yeah. I know many of you can relate to this.
After spending my life in a morning routine of snooze, rush, stress, one night I decided I was ready to dedicate my efforts to training myself to go to bed early. It did take time but I have a severe case of stubborness.
I started out with a very simple goal. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual.
I did this for about a week. Then I decided I was ready to go to bed 15 more minutes earlier. I did this for several months until I reached 11pm! Honestly, if you struggle with going to bed early, you will agree this was a HUGE success! I stayed with this self created bedtime for probably a couple of years. At the same time, I made a pact with myself to get up on the first alarm with absolutely no snoozing. No matter what. No matter how tired I felt. No matter how loudly our perfection of a Tempurpedic mattress called out to me. Just get up.
Fast forward to about five years and here I am now a “morning person.” I go to bed sometime between 9:30pm and 10:30pm (latest!) almost every night. I wake up on the first alarm or even before the alarm with time to drink my glass of water, meditate most mornings, eat breakfast, hygiene and get to my first commitment early.
Believe me, if I can do it, so can you.
Start small.
Maybe for you it’s going to bed 15 minutes early, as I did.
Maybe it’s more important to start out with setting some ground rules for yourself like:
*no electronics thirty minutes before bed
*no tv/tablet/phone in bed
*meditate before bed
*journal writing before bed
*take a relaxing bath before bed
Let me know which habit you will try first!
Coach Sarah