Do you ever feel like you fall asleep JUST fine… only to wake up a few hours later, your brain running on a wheel like a flippin’ hamster who forgot to take her Adderall??

You’d think all that running would exhaust that tiny little rodent!

Nope.

If you’re like me, you’re up for a few hours. Then, JUST when you FINALLY pass out – you hear…

“MOOO-oooommmmmm”

Why do you expect YOURSELF to be able to function, think clearly, get exercise, juggle all the things, not forget the other things, be patient and kind and blah blah blah… with no dang sleep?!

Do you think you’re a flippin’ super hero?  

(Notice: there are NO superheroes whose powers are the ability to stay awake and alert and 24-7! Even Marvel thinks that would be totally unrealistic and ridiculous!!)

And yet, since you became a mother, you’ve sacrificed your sleep for everyone around you.

It’s a lot.

I swear I didn’t sleep for about 11 years straight. It. Was. Torturous. 

I want to share what helped me to FINALLY sleeeeeeeeeeep. Really sleep. 

It’s been 2 years and seven months that I’ve been able to sleep, and I cherish every flippin’ hour!

THREE STEPS TO BETTER SLEEP

Step One: Downshift Your Brain. 

This is best and most easily done through meditation. Yep. It doesn’t even have to be right before bed. ANY time during the day, take ten minutes and do a guided meditation, a mantra exercise, or box-breathing. Here’s a video that might help if you need support for this step. 

Step Two: Decompress Your Body. 

Step outside. Put your feet on the dirt or grass. Look up into the nights’ sky. Or, if it’s freezing out or you’re a single mom in a high-rise and cannot really leave the building, hop into a bath or a shower. Water and nature BOTH allow our nervous system to calm-the-heck-down. 

Step Three: Disconnect Your Devices. 

The blue light on your retina, the disturbing stories, the annoying posts, the passively observing and absorbing whatever happens to pop up on your feed… it’s no bueno. Instead, what if YOUR were THE BOSS of what you allow into your world? 

…ESPECIALLY right before you sleep at night. 

Try putting your phone to bed in the kitchen an hour before you want to fall asleep. Grab a journal to write, a book to read, or do some stretching and deep breathing. 

Bonus Step: Right before you fall asleep, think of or write down three very tiny, very specific things you’re grateful for today.