How to protect your sleep

In the last part of this 5-part series, we will look at what it means to PROTECT our sleep. 

First, a quick recap. 

In Part 1, we talked about valuing our sleep. Read here.

In Part 2, we talked about prioritizing our sleep. Read here.

In Part 3, we talked about personalizing our sleep. Read here.

In Part 4, we talked about trusting our sleep. Read here.

If you’ve done the exercises along the way of this 5-part series, there is no doubt in my mind you are already sleeping better. 

Now let’s look at what we can do to shield ourselves from anything or anyone that might disrupt our sleep.

You might be thinking, well, I have a newborn baby, or I work shifts, or I live in a noisy neighborhood. Some circumstances are out of our control, but I am talking about everything else.

What CAN you control in your life that will help to protect your sleep?

Did you know that sleep thrives on a predictable routine? We can see this in small children; when we ensure that they follow a nighttime routine and stick to a consistent bedtime, they fall asleep quickly. When we are not as consistent, it’s a lot harder to get our children to bed. We are no different! 

You need to protect your sleep from too many changes. Now that you have experimented with personalizing your sleep, stick to your pattern.

Other important areas to address in order to protect your sleep:

• It's essential to clear your mind before bed. If you don’t put your day to rest, your concerns and worries may show up at night and keep you awake. To protect your sleep, create a consistent evening routine to wind down and clear your mind.
• Set boundaries for yourself. Yes, decide ahead of time what you will and will not allow in your life. Then commit to adding some self-care and removing any activities that will affect your sleep. For example, I choose never to drink any caffeinated drinks in the afternoon. I do that to protect my sleep because I know that if I drink coffee past noon, I won't be able to fall asleep.
• Set boundaries with other people in your life. Let the people in your house know about your new sleep habits. If they need help with anything, you are open to helping them, but only before 9 PM. Tell your friends and family that you won’t be answering messages or phone calls after a specific time at night. 

Now that you know how valuable sleep is, and how great you will feel the next day if you prioritize your sleep, set those boundaries. Establishing healthy boundaries is an act of self-love. Rather than feeling restricted by them, boundaries will give you the best chance at living the fullest, most vibrant life possible. And it all starts with a great night's sleep!

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Knowing we should set appropriate boundaries to protect our sleep may seem straightforward. But it doesn’t mean we know how to make the changes necessary to ensure a good night’s rest. 

That's why I'm offering a completely free 20-minute Optimal Sleep Assessment. In this session via Zoom we will figure out your biggest hurdle to getting the restorative sleep you need AND what action you can take towards improving your sleep. 

Sign up today for your Optimal Sleep Assessment. The sooner you do it, the sooner you will be able to get the good sleep you need and wake up feeling refreshed and energetic!