The Importance of Sleep

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Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast Episode 002.
This week, I’m addressing the issue of sleep.  As moms and homemakers, most of us know what it is like to feel sleep deprived.  But do you truly know how that impacts your health?

Brett tries to get sleep.

Over the past couple of months I personally discovered that it isn’t always enough to get 8 hours of sleep.  The quality of our sleep can often be just as important or even more important than the quantity.    Brett joins me and answers questions about the role of sleep in her life and what happens when we don’t get enough of it.  I hope this episode helps you to make proper sleep a priority in your life so you can be the mom you are capable of being!

Brett Podcasting

I would love to know what you thought of this episode and what the biggest obstacles to a good night’s sleep are for you.

You can comment on the blog post below or leave a message on The Busy Mom’s Survival Guide feedback line at 240-230-SOAP.

Thanks for listening! Tune in next week when I talk about how to eat enough fruits and vegetables!

 

You can read the Podcast Transcript or subscribe to the Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast:

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32 thoughts on “The Importance of Sleep”

  1. Great information about sleep! Loved all of the reminders about getting enough sleep and staying healthy.

  2. Good information! We used to homeschool and I was able to sleep until around 8:00 in the morning. Since we had to put the kids in public school I had to start getting up between 6:00-6:30. That has really taken a toll on my health. It also has been a challenge to get to bed earlier, but will keep working at it. Thanks for the reminders!

    • I hear you Jen, For me, it’s the “I’ll just do one more thing before stopping” that then turns into 10 things and 2 hours!!

      PJ

  3. Great job, PJ & Brett! Thanks for inviting us in, once again. This week’s sleep subject is very, very interesting to me. I’ve always been quite a bit of a night-owl, yet I still wonder why I l feel sluggish after sleeping 8 hrs or more and taking a whole food multivitamin. My husband & I both can gain something from your podcast this week. We both break so many of the rules for quality sleep. I’ve read a post from a MD on Dr Oz’s site that reiterates what you’ve shared with us (in case anyone is interested in reading):
    http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/kulreet-chaudhary-md/sleep-and-longevity

    I feel that God has a natural rhyme and reason for our bodies and that we would honestly function better if we were more in tune with all things natural. 🙂 God bless those who work nightshifts or swing shifts on their job, as well as those who are sleep deprived for other reasons. Thanks so much, PJ! I really need to put your helpfulness to work in my life!

    (And Brett, your voice is wonderful! I like your Mom’s idea in the March newsletter, encouraging you & Colt to start your very own podcasts! I had two homeschooled nephews and am amazed at how wonderful homeschooled children interact with others. I went to public school and still have a shyer, less outgoing personality than so many homeschoolers!)

    • That’s an excellent article and supports everything I learned exactly! And I can tell you from personal experience it is true.

      I think you’re absolutely right – God created daytime and nighttime and our sleep should coordinate with the two.

      Brett’s not here right now, but I’ll point out your comment to her later. 🙂

      PJ

      • Thanks, PJ! I also meant to wish you an early “Happy Birthday”! 🙂 My husband Kelly’s is the 18th…..he just missed St. Patty’s Day by a few hours.

        • Thanks, Jonie!

          I was a C-section and supposed to be born on the 16th and be named Dawn. My mom decided to wait til the 17th and renamed me Patti! 🙂

          Happy birthday to Kelly too!
          PJ

  4. great tips to think about, especially on quality of sleep.
    I have the opposite problem though – I sleep too much!

  5. PJ, that’s great about the hugs became a ‘game’ between you and Jim!

    I had a rough few years, on and off, with lack of sleep, which varied from trouble falling asleep to waking up every hour or two during the night. My physician wanted me to take sleeping pills. I am not one to take medications unless it is absolutely necessary. After a year of frustration and quite sleep deprived, I agreed to taking the sleeping pills. After two nights and two horribly groggy days, I stopped taking the sleeping pills. I tried everything from changing my diet to relaxation techniques for several more months. A friend of mine suggested for me to go to an acupuncturist. I put it off for awhile before I decided to try it. Five years later, I am still getting acupuncture treatments :). It has really helped with my sleeping issue along with other issues that came up along the way!

    Your advice is great!

    I love the idea of no light night!

    • I’m so glad that you figured out something that works for you! That’s so important. 🙂

      No light nights are awesome – they were all Jim’s idea – I can’t take any credit for it.

      PJ

  6. First of all, congrats to Brett for getting your own room! Yeah! Even as I’m commenting here, I’m fighting sleep. Guess that means I should have been in bed before now. Enjoyed this podcast and I learned some new things about sleep. Think I’ll try and get to bed earlier. I go to bed between 10:30-11:00 each night….used to be midnight. I would like to get up earlier as well. Guess I’ll hit the hay now!

    • Lisa,

      Brett is so excited about her own room. It was time and I’m glad that we were able to do it. It’s very hard for me to stop and go to bed earlier than I ever have, but it’s definitely making a positive difference!

      PJ

  8. Great info. I shared with my husband. He has some stress related BP issues and was diagnosed with epilepsy this past summer. The doctor said he needs more sleep. Such a hard thing for parents with young children. We are working on it but not there yet. The past few weeks have been hard with the time change and our kids waking in the night. I hate the idea of going to bed at 9 when my husband doesn’t get home until almost 8. The time betwwen kids going to bed and our bedtime is “our” time to catch up. It is still a work in progress. Your info definitely gave he and I food for thought though.

    • Ammie – that is so hard. Maybe you can spend your time in the dark talking and relaxing with the lights out so that you’re ready to fall asleep that much faster? I said a prayer that God would allow you the time you need with your husband while still allowing you both the sleep that you need.

      One thing I’ve learned is that if I’m regularly getting to bed at the right time, the nights that the children are up, I can handle so much better!

      PJ

  9. How cool to win this week! Thank you so much! I loved your podcast this week. This is just what I needed to hear. I am one of those who sleeps most nights from 11 or 12 till 7am. I am tired a lot, and I guess it’s because I’m not sleeping enough. I am going to try to work on some of your suggestions for me and my family. Thanks for keeping us moms on track!

    • Congrats, Gemma! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It was very personal for me because I struggle with getting to bed early, but the more I research, the more convinced I am of how essential it is!

      PJ

  10. Enjoyed listening ~ the biggest obstacle to a good night’s sleep for me is my husband’s snoring! 🙂

    • Unfortunately, that is a very real problem for a lot of people. White noise is the best to help, but even that can only cover so much!

      PJ

  11. thank you for the helpful hints to get better sleep! and yes, if momma ain’t happy nobody is happy 😉

  12. What great information! Thanks for sharing! Lately sleep has been a challenge for me, and I’ll have to try the no lights before bed!

  13. What a great topic and good information. My biggest sleep hindrance is that I’m a night owl so I don’t want to go to bed…but the alarm still goes off early 🙁 Brett did a great job too…what a poised and intelligent young lady!

    • Anne – my whole life I’ve always been a night owl, but apparently it has caught up with me. So I’m trying to change it. It’s not easy, but I’m not going to give up!!

      PJ

  14. Enjoyed the podcast. I tend to have the same sleeping pattern as you used to have. I enjoy having some me time and time to get things done late at night after everyone else has gone to bed. I also heard that the hours before midnight are equal to two hours after midnight, and have been wanting to go to bed earlier, but I seem to come up with an excuse every night. Maybe hearing about all the health benefits you talked about will be just the push I need to start going to bed earlier now. I, like you, have been working hard at living a healthy lifestyle and this is the one thing that I am missing. Thanks for the information.

    • Hi Sylvia!

      I have to tell you that it was SO hard for me to make the change, but I’ve been doing it for a couple of weeks now and it’s getting easier and easier. Plus, I really feel the difference.

      I hope you’re able to make the switch! You won’t regret it. 🙂

      PJ

  15. Thank you for this post. Ironically, I’m listening to it on a break from writing a paper at 11:00pm. I just found your podcast and am listening through from the beginning. I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say. Thanks! (Back to paper-writing. I’ll try very hard to get to bed early tomorrow night.)

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