Sleep

Instead of making New Year's resolutions, two friends and I have decided to each come up with a word or term which describes an area of our lives that we would like to improve on during 2017.

My word is: Sleep.

Even before Stefan was born, my nightly sleep was all over the place. I had huge problems falling asleep, would wake up several times a night and every night, I would eat something. Sweet. No wonder I always grabbed the opportunity to take a nap (which might account for me being a student for six years before getting a full-time job...)

The main symptom of my post-natal depression was my insomnia. I had plenty of opportunity to sleep as Paul got up most nights to deal with Stefan, when it was obvious that I was struggling, but I couldn't fall asleep. And when I finally did, I only slept for two hours max, before waking up again and then being unable to go back to sleep again.

This vicious circle was finally broken during my stay at the hospital and I am ever so grateful to the medical staff for letting me sleep as much as I could the first week of my stay.

My ability to fall asleep and sleep quality have greatly improved over the past two years. BUT, I still have a pretty crazy sleeping pattern, which is what I want to change this year.

Basically, I go to sleep between 22.30-24.00 and then get up between 06.30-08.00 (Paul usually takes Stefan to the Krippe in the morning, I then pick him up in the afternoon.) This doesn't mean, however, that I get my recommended seven to eight hours' sleep every night due to the fact that I usually wake up two to three times to go to the toilet, often stay up for an hour to read (the hour between 03.00-04.00 is my preferred one), and most worryingly, regularly eat a LOT of chocolate. (On top of that, Stefan occasionally comes to sleep in my bed which also wakes me up. But I kind of like having him snuggle up next to me as long as he keeps his feet away from my face.)

Consequently, I take a nap lasting from one to two hours most afternoons and feel sluggish for at least one hour afterwards. This adds up to a lot of wasted hours during the week, month and year. And this has to change!

(NOTE: One of the luxuries of having a three bedroom flat is that we all have a bedroom each. Paul and I are one of those couples that don't share a bed as then neither of us would ever get a good night's sleep.)

Hence, in 2017 I want to focus on getting a normal sleeping rhythm going and this is how:

• Be in bed and ready to sleep by 23.00
• Getting up no later than 07.30
• No eating during the night
• No reading during the night
• No napping during the day

What would you like to change this year and how will you go about doing it?

I'd love to hear from you! 

Happy 2017!