How I Get A Good Night’s Rest

Do you love sleep? I never knew how much I enjoyed a good night’s rest until I became a mother. I remember hearing other women say they woke up at 2 or 3 in the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I promised myself I would never become a person who couldn’t rest. However, if I’m being honest there have been times when I struggled with resting peacefully. I remember the first time it happened in graduate school. I had so many things going on and so many different deadlines. When I went to sleep at night my mind raced and I could only think of everything I needed to get done the next day. I’m one of those people who has nightmares where I go to school and realize a big project is due and I have nothing to turn in. I knew something needed to change because I love sleep!

When I became a mother I was faced with new challenges. In the beginning Izzy woke up every 3 hours to nurse. By the time nursing was done that gave me 2-2.5 hours to sleep. For some reason I had such a difficult time unwinding and falling back asleep. Sometimes I only got 30 minutes before she woke up again. I wanted to fall back asleep, but my mind kept wandering. I also had irrational fears, such as ‘is she warm enough? can she breathe? is she too warm?’ and the list could go on. So I went to my source of hope and encouragement, the Bible, and started meditating on scriptures about sleep! I also want to share s0me easy steps I took to ensure I was getting a good night’s rest.

Here are some practical steps and scriptures for a good night’s rest:

• Sleep atmosphere = I’m the kind of person who likes background noise. So we have a fan running all year long! It’s soothing and blocks out some background noise. I also love my latex pillow. Finding the right pillow for a restful sleep. We recently purchased latex pillows because they are naturally resistant to bed bugs, dust mites, etc. They have a similar feel to memory foam, but without all the toxic chemicals. Other things to consider: Is your room dark enough? What is the temperature of your bedroom? We typically sleep in a room that is 65-68 degrees, maybe a little colder in the winter, but we use extra blankets.

• Foods = Are you drinking or eating foods with caffeine before bed? This can definitely mess up your sleep cycle! It may also be helpful to avoid sugary foods before bed. Experiment and learn what your food triggers are so you can avoid them before hitting the sack.

• Clear your mind = Do you have a never ending to do list and a million things running through your mind at all times? I try to write down what I need to get done so I can avoid being stressed about it. There have been times where I kept a pencil and pad next to my bed so I could write down reminders. I also try, although I’m not always successful, to avoid my phone right before I go to bed. 

• Exercise = Did you know that exercise can improve your sleep quality, mood, and overall quality of life? A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine also found that the better you slept the more likely you are to exercise. So improving sleep may encourage your participation in exercise! 

• Meditate on scripture = This is a big one for me. Especially when I find myself with fear because of silly worries. Below I listed some of my favorite scriptures on sleep.

Scripture on sleep:

• In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

• When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

• Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

• The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. Psalm 121: 5-6

• God never sleeps nor slumbers and he says he will carry your burdens. So go to him! Ask him for help and he will always come through.

What do you do to ensure a good night’s sleep?

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