Tips for Good Sleep For Homemakers

We cannot stress enough on the importance of sleep in our lives. Just like all our primary needs, sleep is something we all need to stay sane and sustain. Unfortunately, of late, more and more people are experiencing sleep issues.

Studies indicate that an adult is required to sleep for about 6 – 8 hours each day. That is about one-third of our day, and yet we try to keep sleep on the last priority on our daily list. We do not give sleep the importance it deserves, and perhaps that is why we end up experiencing so many of health and lifestyle issues.

It has been observed that the problem of insomnia is more common and severe among women. Studies suggest that they are twice as likely as the other gender to have difficulties falling and staying asleep. For most women and especially the homemakers, it is often a dream to be able to catch the required amount of sleep each night. The problem is not only the lack of sleep but also reduced quality of sleep. You may sleep for hours, but the sleep has to be sound and uninterrupted. While younger women may find it easier to get the sleep they need, the problem worsens as they age.

Reasons Behind

The reasons could be many and may vary from female to female.

• Females usually face difficulty falling asleep in the first place. This could be attributed to the fact that they think a lot, and naturally tend to stress over the tiniest of matters.
• Young females, especially housewives and new mothers, often find it difficult to rest and sleep well. They give the least amount of preference to their need to sleep rather put their family and children above everything.
• All through their lives, women often come across situations that lead to staggering changes in hormone levels. Menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause can also have a major effect on sleep. For example, frequent fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone can affect their mood and reaction to everyday stress.
• Facing premenstrual sleep issues is very common among a lot of women. PMS is known to cause trouble in falling asleep, frequent waking and excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Pregnancy brings along its share of sleep issues. While the first and second trimesters are still comfortable, the third trimester is when the sleeplessness hits hard. General discomfort, lower back pain, leg cramps, heartburn, baby movements and the need for frequent urination often cause the problem.
• Post-delivery, the woman’s sleep pattern is decided primarily by that of the baby.
• During menopause, again, women tend to wake frequently during night owing to night sweats and hot flashes, thus feeling more fatigued all through the day.
• Other factors, such as diet, lifestyle, environment and surroundings further impact their quality of sleep.

Solutions to Sleeping Well

Like we mentioned earlier, sleep is indispensable to lead a healthy life. Hence, it is important to take all measures that allow you to have a good night’s sleep, each night. In the case of women, a night of beauty sleep could literally make you and your life all the more gorgeous. Let’s have a look at some simple tips that could help you achieve that.

• Consistency helps, try to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
• Avoid the urge to indulge in daytime naps, or that might affect your quality of sleep at night.
• Indulge in physical activities during the day, something that tires you enough to look forward to a good night’s sleep. Do not do that closer to bedtime, though.
• Give yourself sufficient exposure to sunlight during the day, and do not use very bright lights after evening hours. This is needed to be in sync with your biological clock.
• Keep a check on your diet. Eat light during dinner, avoid spicy or processed foods and definitely avoid alcohol or caffeine hours before you hit the bed.
• Smoking can also affect your sleep, so as far as possible, abstain.
• Indulge in a calm and cozy bedtime routine. Keep the lights dim, the bed neat and comfortable.
• Disconnect. Switch off all electronics at least an hour before bed. Try reading a good book instead, or listening to soothing music before bedtime.
• Try to put worry aside, and have happy thoughts while you prepare for sleep. Tell yourself that tomorrow, it will all be behind you and that it is going to be a good day.
• Also, give yourself and your need to sleep the priority that is needed. If you are not well-rested, chances are that you will remain irritated, less productive and at an increased risk of suffering from accidents the following day.

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