5 Reasons Why Sleep Will Help Parents Stay Happy
As parents, we all know how difficult it can be to get some sleep with the kids around. It’s especially tough for new moms who give their all to their little bundles of joy, even in the middle of the night. But always remember that even in parenthood, you deserve to take care of yourself. And as Happiness Mama has shared about self-care, sleep is one area you should make a high priority. It’s easy to neglect sleep for the sake of your child, but getting enough sleep is vitally important. You can be a better mom, and a happier mom, if you get enough sleep. Here’s why:
Sleep Keeps You Calm and Relaxed
As moms, we know how stressful it can be at times to deal with energetic kids. Well, the simplest way to get rid of stress is to sleep all your troubles away! With a healthy amount of sleep, you can feel better and attend to your kids in the best way.
Sleep Keeps Your Heart Happy
If your heart could talk, it would tell you get some sleep. Harvard Health indicates that maintaining a regular sleep schedule significantly lowers cardiovascular risks, including high blood pressure and heart disease. A happy heart makes a happy and healthy mama, so be sure to get enough rest!
Sleep Makes You Lose Weight
Getting a full night of sleep is one of the most under-appreciated factors that contribute to healthy weight maintenance. At least that’s what psychology professor Matthew Walker told Time Magazine. But he speaks the truth: a healthy amount of sleep can reduce your cravings for food. That’s because it can regulate certain hormones which tell you to eat more or eat less. Ever wonder why your cravings for junk food may be strong on some days? It’s probably because you weren’t able to get a full night’s sleep.
Providing healthy snacks, such as cut up vegetables, fruit, and other whole foods is a great way to make sure everyone eats well and feels their best.
Sleep Makes You Less Clumsy
A good amount of sleep keeps your motor skills in check. You’re less likely to be a klutzy mama and cause an accident such as tripping over a toy or spilling coffee. So when your kids make a mess of the home and leave a labyrinth of toys on the floor, at least you’ll be fully prepared to tackle the situation, instead of making another mess yourself!
Sleep Makes You Remember Good Memories
Tons of research has shown how a good night’s rest can help improve memory skills. When you sleep, you give your brain the chance to reorganize memories of the day and store them properly. Also, with enough sleep, you can focus and pay close attention to what’s going on with your children. Is your child anxious about something? Is your child expressing interest in a new hobby? When you learn something new, the information registers faster in a well-rested brain.
There’s also a much more important reason why you need to sleep. Leesa explains that a person is twice as likely to form negative memories than positive ones when they are sleep-deprived. Research showed that when shown a list of words, sleep-deprived people performed 40% worse at remembering the words overall, but their ability to remember negative words decreased by only 20 percent. No one wants to dwell on the negative. Getting enough sleep helps parents to remember the happy moments with their children.
As mamas, we’ve all been sleep-deprived at some points in our lives. What did you do to solve this? Share your stories in the comments below.
I hope you enjoyed this post by a guest contributor! ~Heather, Happiness Mama
