Week One

My first area of business is to decide what it is I’d like to accomplish. It’s easy to say I want to be healthy, happy, and positive, but it’s not so easy to break it down. I figure changing my life has to involve teaching myself new habits, habits that will become second nature with enough practice. I think one of the most important habits I’ve got to master is one of my Health goals, and that is creating a sleep routine for me.

I work a shift that starts at 2 am. My initial interest in this shift was that I could be home for my kids, save money by removing day care costs, and use some of the earned money on paying off my debt, as well as paying for activities and extra things for my kids. I figured I would still get plenty of sleep because I usually get home at 5 am which would make up for any sleep I lacked. I also thought that the kids would take their usual afternoon nap and I could nap with them if necessary. I also thought that since my hubby does all the breakfast making and teeth brushing in the morning, I would have no worries. I was thinking in a vacuum unfortunately, where everything remains static and everything is within my complete control. I didn’t take into consideration that my husband travels A LOT and at times with only 24 hours notice. I also didn’t take into account that my kids weren’t going to want to nap as they aged. I also didn’t take into account that I would get promoted so soon and that along with the honor of more responsibility, come longer hours. That last thing that I never even fathomed, was that I wouldn’t be able to get to sleep, either before work, or afterwards. There are days where I’m dragging, or I fall asleep every time I sit down. And on those days, I am grumpy, snappish, and a complete displeasure to be around. Everything gets on my nerves, and I get one everyone’s nerves. I keep myself separate from my family, and I am loathe to get any household chores done. I would be happiest alone in a dark cave on those days, as even the sound of birds chirping outside my window is enough to drive me mad. Needless to say, getting enough sleep is a priority on this journey.

Maybe I should clarify enough sleep. I’m more interested in getting enough quality sleep over getting a full 8 hours. Quality sleep isn’t an indulgence, it’s self preservation and needs to be treated thusly. I’ll be less likely to get sick, I’ll be less grumpy, and it will help me maintain my weight (Bonus!). Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that when Mommy’s happy, everyone’s happy.

So my goal this week is to get in the habit of sleeping; the same bedtime during the work week, and a two hour difference on the off days. The lights need to be off, and the house needs to be quiet. That might mean making my kids have “quiet time” 30 minutes earlier in order to get all the wiggles out of them and have them settle more quietly to bed. It takes around three days for the body to develop a routine, and like bedtime routines for babies, it needs to be stuck to in order to be effective. It will stink going to bed before the sun, but it will be so rewarding to wake up rested, and to actually enjoy the rest of my day. Fingers crossed for many ZZZ's this week.

Goal Week Two: Saying Bye to Bad Food Habits