Today I’m sharing goal #8 of my “11-in-2011” challenge — it’s a good one!
I’ve talked A LOT about time management since I started this blog back in July…and one of MY major time management goals for 2011 is to get more sleep. Who’s with me?
Goal #8: Get More Sleep
Growing up, I ALWAY got at least 8 hours of sleep…even all through college! If I had to wake up early, I was in bed by 9:30 or 10:00pm, no questions asked. I didn’t even have a curfew!
However, as I get older and acquire more responsibilities, commitments, and a job I can literally work 24/7; my bedtime continues to move later and later into the night!
Can you relate?
I suppose if I work towards Goal #5 and get better at managing my time, then I’ll be able to achieve Goal #8 of getting more sleep, only to wake up and practice Goal #1 of making my bed — and I’ll be so refreshed after a full night’s sleep that I’ll probably get all the rest of my goals accomplished too! Ah, it’s all such a vicious cycle 🙂
Anyway, here are five things I’ve been doing to help me get a few more minutes of shut-eye.
1. I get ready for the next day after dinner.
After we’re done eating, I usually spend a few minutes cleaning up the kitchen, loading the dishwasher, wiping down the table, etc. I also use this time to pack my lunch, pick my clothes out, and make sure I’m “ready to go” for the next day. This only takes me a few minutes and it allows me to sleep longer in the morning
2. I turn off the computer.
Ok, I haven’t been doing a great job of this lately, but my goal is to have the computer turned off by 11:00pm {or earlier}. This give me a chance to wind down and turn my brain off from work mode…which is really hard to do!
3. I put a heating blanket on our bed.
And who wouldn’t want to crawl into a toasty warm bed on a cold winter night?
4. I limited my evening commitments.
As of January 1, I official quit 3 different comities I was part of. One met every Wednesday night, one met every Thursday night, and the other one met a few times per month. I now have TONS more time to get things done in the evenings…which helps me get to bed that much earlier.
5. I wear ear plugs!
Well, actually I only wear ONE ear plug because I sleep on my side! Seriously though, I’m a really light sleeper and nearly any noise wakes me up, so sleeping with my earplug in prevents lots of lost sleep!
What are your secrets for getting more sleep?
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Bobbie says
I linked to you today!!
Sue says
I thought i was the only one that liked a shower before bed.. every one tells me that would wake them up more.. I think it is relaxing..
I have got to try the ear plug thing.. maybe.. but I would be afraid that I would not hear the kids.
Sue in NJ
Kristina @ A Home Made by Kiki says
Andrea, I just came across your blog and love it!! I definitely need to start following the “turn off the computer” suggestion. Here I am at 12:37 still going! (I may be up late tonight reading your blog….ha!) Recently, I started taking my showers in the evenings in order to have one less thing to do in the morning.
http://ahomemadebykiki.blogspot.com
Melanie says
What a BLESSING to find your site today! I am so encouraged by your posts and your wonderful advice. Thank you!
Andrea says
Thanks Melanie!
'Becca says
I am TERRIBLE about staying up late doing stuff–I don’t actually enjoy sleeping and tend to think of it as a waste of time, but I do need it! Lately I’ve been working on getting to bed on time just on Sunday night, to get a good start for the week; I figure if I get good at it on Sundays, that might spread to other days. One of my favorite methods for making it worthwhile is to seek out my man (who’s usually on the computer…) and invite him to join me. 😉
We both sleep better since we started using layered bedding instead of a big comforter.
Good luck with your resolution!
Suzanne says
Too bad I can’t wear earplugs, but my 3-year-old might just yell even louder then, for me to hear him. 🙁 I’m finding as I get older I actually need more sleep and need to go to bed earlier..that’s hard!
Amber Mooney says
Can you tell me about your bedding? My husband and I are trying to create a cozy sleeping spot that doesn’t look like it came from a bag. I think we would both enjoy some of the elements you’ve got! Thanks!
Andrea says
Thanks Amber — you’re not the first one to ask about our bedding, maybe I should do a blog about it!
Anyway, I never buy bedding from a bag because I’m not a real “matchy” person. I actually end up making most of our bedding b/c I can’t find anything I like in the stores.
I love earth tones, neutrals, etc. so the I started with crisp white sheets. Then I added a bunch of blankets, which I covered with a chocolate brown flannel sheet {b/c it looks SO much nicer!}. I made the chocolate bed skirt out of a twin sheet and then I simply sewed some lace on top {lace was from the fabric store}.
The waffle-weave comforter is actually a Twin size {our bed is a queen} and I got it from a garage sale — however it’s originally from Pottery Barn. So everything is really neutral, which allows me to mix-and-match decorative pillows (which I make out of scrap fabrics) and the quilt.
Hopefully this helps a bit!
Sandra says
Good ideas! I try to get to bed before 10:00pm and get at least 7 hours of sleep in order to be up well before the kids. :0)
Bernadete Tavares says
Thanks for the great tips “)
Kalyn says
To wind down when it’s time to go to sleep, I try to be in bed by a certain time. Even if I’m not tired, I still climb into bed and read a book for a little while until my eyes get heavy. It has to be a fiction book though or at least something a little less mind-boggling. My political picks tend to make my blood pressure rise and defeat the purpose of a relaxing evening! 🙂
Jolon @ Savvy Chic Savings says
The answer to “do you need more sleep” is alllllways “yes”. I really need to do a better job of #2 turning off the computer. Last night I was up working until 4am. 4am!! Ridiculous. #3 is good, too. Warm toes 🙂
Andrea says
Jolon, 4am is ridiculous…turn that computer off!
Karen @ Abundance on a Dime says
Turning the computer off early really does help! A few months ago I set a goal to have it off by 9 PM on weeknights – I haven’t always hit it but it’s usually off before 10 PM which is a lot earlier than in the past (I had a tendency to do a lot of midnight web surfing). I definitely find turning it off earlier means I will get to bed earlier – plus I usually spend much more time connecting with my family in the evening when the machine’s not on 🙂
Eos Mom says
You hit the nail on the head today! I did NOT get enough sleep last night (went to bed at “normal” time but my son woke up half an hour “early”) and I lounged the morning away. Ugh, such a waste, now I’m stuck playing catch-up. I need to set a “stop time” so no matter what we’re doing (usually watching a movie), we stop and get ready for bed–but it’s hard if there’s just a few more minutes left of the movie or if we get to talking… suddenly it’s past 11. (My husband brushes his teeth before we settle in to watch tv, which saves him time when we finally hit the hay; I usually don’t because I like to eat while watching tv–so maybe I can adopt this habit and kill two birds with one stone (bed earlier and no snacking).
Dorothy says
I like that you’re making getting more sleep a goal!!! I’ve made a committment to go to bed by 10:30 every night because I’m so darn tired all the time. It’s working. It’s not easy to go to bed before the Red Wings are done playing or because my husband is a night owl, but it’s working so far.
Love your blog!
ListfulWistful says
This post came at the perfect time for me! Lately I’ve been getting into my productivity groove around 9:30, and I’m so glad to be getting things done that I let myself work way later that I need to. Thanks for the reminder and the tips.
*I also wear just one earplug to bed. Funny!
Andrea says
Wonderful…so happy to serve as a helpful reminder!! I love a good “productivity groove” as much as anyone, but I also need to know when to call it a night.
And too funny that we BOTH wear only one earplug. My husband and I sleep on our sides, facing opposite directions, so we each only need one ear plug…romantic, huh?? 🙂
mARY says
I think you forgot to mention showering! 😀 A nice longgggg hot shower feels absolutely wonderful right before bed. Washes the days’ worries right away.
FYI, LOVE your blog. Everything you write about, I already do so it makes me feel, normal. LOL
Andrea says
Mary, I almost always take a shower before I go to bed…so I should have put it on the list, but I forgot!
Anyway, you’re right, showering does help me sleep better.
Oh, and glad my blog makes you feel “normal”!