Parenting & Sleep Deprivation: How to Survive and Thrive
As a parent, you know all too well the challenges of balancing your life. Between work, family, and other obligations, it can feel like there’s not enough hours in a day to get everything done. And when that happens, sleep is often the first thing to go—which can lead to sleep deprivation. But don’t worry—it is possible to survive and even thrive while dealing with sleep deprivation.
Here are some tips on how to do just that.
Stay Hydrated
When we are deprived of the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night, our bodies can become dehydrated more quickly than usual. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day so that your body can stay strong and energized—even when you haven’t had enough restful sleep. Coffee and tea count too (in moderation); just make sure you are also drinking water along with your caffeine fix!
Take Short Power Naps
If you find yourself feeling especially sluggish throughout the day due to lack of sleep, try taking short power naps throughout the day. Studies have shown that a 10-20 minute nap can be beneficial in improving alertness and cognitive performance without leaving you feeling groggy or disoriented after waking up. If possible, try to fit in one or two power naps throughout your day so that you can stay energized and productive until bedtime comes around again.
Prioritize Your Tasks
It’s easy for us to become overwhelmed when we don’t have enough time in the day for everything we need to do. When this happens, it is important for us to prioritize our tasks so that we can focus on what needs to be done first before moving on to other tasks later on down the line. That way we can make sure our most important tasks get completed despite our lack of sleep!
Surviving (and even thriving!) parenting & sleep deprivation doesn’t have to be hard work — if you know how! By following these simple tips — staying hydrated, taking power naps and prioritizing tasks —you will be able to keep going strong even when things seem overwhelming or unmanageable due to lack of proper restful sleep at night.
So don't despair; if you take care of yourself and prioritize your own needs as much as those of others in your life, then surviving (and even thriving!) during times of sleep deprivation will be a breeze!
