The Challenge of Finding Restful Sleep as a Parent

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone and should not be taken as medical advice. #FindRestEasy #CollectiveBias

Getting a good night’s sleep is no small feat as a parent. Whether it’s a newborn who’s up all night feeding or a toddler who decides it’s fun to crawl into bed with you every night, quality sleep can be hard to come by.

After a good night’s sleep (which isn’t as often as I would like!), I feel like a totally new person! In the spirit of better sleep, I thought I would share some things I do to sleep better:

Avoid Caffeine After Lunch Time

I rely on my morning cup of coffee (or 2 or 3!) to get started in the morning, but I’m careful about not drinking any caffeine-containing beverages after lunch. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 12 hours after consumption, so drinking coffee in the afternoon can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep.

During the afternoon hours I consume only decaffeinated coffee or other non-caffeinated drinks.

Exercise Regularly

As a regular runner, exercise is such a large part of how I am. It makes me feel better in so many different ways. I always sleep better on the days I go for a run. Making my body physically tired from a run makes it so much easier for me to fall asleep and stay asleep.

On the days that I can’t run, I try to at least go for a walk to get moving, whether it’s walking the boys to and from school or taking my youngest for a walk on our local bike path or trails.

Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet

While far from being perfect, I try to eat a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy proteins, and carbohydrates to keep fueled, so I don’t need the afternoon caffeine to make it through the day. On days when I eat too much sugar, I notice that I start craving that afternoon coffee, and the healthy sleep train goes downhill after that!

(Try to) Avoid Electronics in the Bedroom

This one is the toughest for me. As a blogger and social media influencer, I am constantly immersed in the digital world. As the primary caregiver for my 3 children, I have to get a lot of my work done at night.

I stopped into Walgreens last week to pick up a few things and discovered that during the month of March, Walgreens will be highlighting things you can do to get a better night’s sleep through their “The Better You Sleep, The Better You Feel” campaign. It’s like they were talking to me! 😉

All month long you will find helpful products like Advil PM (for individuals dealing with occasional minor aches and pains that can disrupt sleep), Emergen-Zzz* (a natural melatonin-infused drink mix) and Nexium 24HR (a daily over the counter medication that can help prevent painful heartburn during the nighttime hours and throughout the day).

Walgreens is also offering a special promotion that will allow you to earn 3,000 Balance Rewards points ($3 value) during the month of March when you purchase 2 of the following: Advil PM, Emergen-Zzz or Nexium 24HR! Stop in and find out how Walgreens can help you #MakeRestEasy!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.