After yesterdays article on early to bed I had several folks exactly “how” you change your bedtime. So here you go, and while we are at it I will share tips for the whole family, because if baby isn’t sleeping nobody is sleeping.
#1 develop a bedtime routine- bedtime can and probably should involve at least some, or all of these things, bath, changing into night time clothes (that makes a huge difference) and prayer
#2 create a no fly zone- sort of a buffer of time between wild play and get ready for bed, a settling down time, perfect time to read a story out loud or watch a non adventure type of show
#3 aim for a consistent bedtime time- when my children were little it was 7 pm for them and later for us, this was good for them, but I got in the habit of enjoying that time and began staying up way too late, it turned into exhaustion and bad health, now our family bedtime is 9 pm, and we stick pretty close to it
#4 all lights out-if possible ALL, if not a very dim nightlight, it really helps
#5 stay hydrated throughout the day- so you aren’t so dehydrated that you drink a ton before bed and have to get up
#6 clean sheets and a good comfy pillow- again something we just don’t always get to often enough but makes a world of difference
#7 early enough supper-early enough that you don’t go to bed stuffed
#8 make a to do list before bed- of everything you need to remember for the next day, that way you don’t continue to make it in your head while you are trying to go to sleep
#9 transition time for adults too- if you cannot refrain from being on the computer right before bed at least dim your screen, it helps
#10 sleep like a farmer, go to bed with the chickens- not really because chickens go to bed at sundown, but the tip is to go to bed early, I have heard it said that every hour before midnight counts for 2 afterward and the goal is to get around 8 hours for good heath, if you can’t get that many at least get what you do early, here is some good motivation for that, – less wrinkles!
Laying in bed and sleep not happening, now what? Prayer, this is a perfect time to pray, for anything and everything and everyone you can think of until you fall asleep. It is productive, and quickly becomes a habit and you will often times find yourself waking up with a prayer on your heart.
and .. your thoughts?