5 Ways to Get More Sleep - Kicking the Night Owl Habit #Week1

Thank you to Vicks for sponsoring this post as part of my compensated participation in the Vicks Ambassador Program. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

I get it. The kids are finally asleep and the house is quiet. It can be hard to resist the urge to flick on the tv and enjoy that unfamiliar sense of quiet and calm. Or, if you’re like me, it’s an amazing time to check emails or crank out that project with the looming due date. But in 2016, I’ve decided to call it quits on my late night work sessions. Sure, the quiet work time is appealing, but I’ve become way too dependent on working late at night. My priority is to quit this unhealthy habit and find some ways to more sleep. We all know that healthy sleep habits are linked to a lot of benefits so it’s time I got some more of it.

As a mom to three year old twins (non-stop energy!) and a work-at home parent, I feel like I have learned how to make do with less sleep. And while I feel exhausted all the time, this pattern can actually be a hard habit to break.

Here are 5 ways I’m planning to get more sleep in the new year. It’s time to kick my night owl habit to the curb!

Power Off/ Dim Down

Stop the use of electronic devices and television at least 1 hour before bedtime. In addition, keep lights dim at night. This will help your body recognize that it is time to sleep. Looking at a bright screen right up until you head to bed is not helpful and confuses your system.

Get Exercise – Preferably Outdoors

Help your body to actually GET tired by engaging in physical activity daily. For me, I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t walk our dog as much as I could be. I’ve used work and deadlines as an excuse to hire a dog walker or simply skipped his walks all together!

This year, I’m taking that time, in addition to a regular exercise routine, to walk him every morning and evening. This gives our dog the exercise he needs, me – the fresh air and sun I need as well as additional exercise. Exercise will help your body actually BE tired in the evening!

Get on a Schedule

I’m making a schedule for 2016 and factoring everything in. I’ve always been very organized with calendars and lists, but I’ve never stuck to a schedule. This year, I’m outlining work times – separating between household work, blog work and setting a bedtime.

As a night owl, I found that I starting over-relying on my evening work time – saying “I’ll do that when the kids are asleep” a little too often during the day. This led to a ton of work on my plate past 9pm. A strict schedule will help to balance some of that out.

Sleep Help – When I Need It

Scheduling sleep is great – but what happens when you just can’t sleep? Whether it’s stress, a busy day or too much on my mind, sometimes sleep can be elusive. During those occasional times, I take ZzzQuil to help me get the sleep I need.

Relax to Sleep

Sometimes sleep requires a little coaxing. When you shut off the phone, tablet or laptop for the night, consider some habits that will help you unwind. A warm glass of herbal tea with milk — my favorite is a lavender / chamomile tea (see instructions below) and a hot bath help me to get groggy. A warm sleep mask with soothing aromatherapy can also be a great way to relax yourself to sleep!

Natural Chamomile & Lavender Tea

What You Need:

1 tsp of lavender buds (be sure you buy the food grade lavender from a food store!)

1 tsp of chamomile buds

8 oz hot water

milk and honey as desired

Boil water. Add lavender and chamomile buds to a tea ball. Put the straining device in your cup and pour the hot water over it. Allow to steep for 10 minutes – longer equals a stronger flavor. Add warm milk and/or honey to your liking.

The sleep and work balance is so important, so I know ZzzQuil will help me safely stick to my schedule when I find myself wide awake at night.

Want to try ZzzQuil for yourself? Take advantage of this coupon to see how ZzzQuil can help you get a full night’s rest.