Lately, I’ve been sleeping REALLY well.  It’s probably the best sleep I’ve had since being pregnant with baby #1 back in September of 2006.  Yes,  that’s almost 4 years of unmanageable, poor sleep.  Can you believe it?  Although I don’t sleep in anymore (nothing past 7:00 AM), my nights are still crash sleep and I feel pretty rested afterward.  So how did I do it?  Read on my sleepy friend, read on!

The sleeping place is what it is.  A place to sleep.

I don’t have computers, television or anything distracting in my sleeping chambers.  Although I will read in bed or play with my iPhone, these little moments to myself actually help me turn off my brain and prepare for sleep.  I don’t make my room a multi-tasking zone where I can work, play, eat and dream.

Physical comfort comes first.

My dad used to work for a first-class mattress company so we always got the best sleeping goods.  I still apply this rule to my home and bed.  Rotate mattresses if needed and buy a new one at least once every 10 years (less if your kids use it as a jumping platform).  I also don’t settle for foam mattresses and do buy a mattress with a firmer feel - definitely better for your back and posture.  Plus, I don’t cheap out on the blankets and pillows.  You’re sleeping in this thing for 8 hours a day, which is a quarter of your life, so invest in it.  Yah, can you argue that most people don’t sleep 8 hours a day, but I do (at least).  As well, if I’m freezing in my blankets, I have trouble sleeping - so my new best friend isn’t my husband, it’s a hot water bottle!!

Prioritize your sleep.  #1!!

When I tell people I sleep at 9:00 PM, most people laugh at me.  That’s because as ludicrous as it sounds, HKers are probably still at work at 9:00 PM.  Well, that’s where my prioritizing steps in.  I don’t work crazy hours, nor will I ever.  You might say I’m lucky to have a choice in this, but I see it as both opportunity and personality.  When I was an avid WOW (World of Warcraft addict), I chose gaming over sleeping - but now sleeping is way more important than gaming.  You just have to prioritize that sleep is more important than surfing, gaming, reading, or playing and implement.  Mind over matter.

Dark and quiet.

Some people sleep like the dead.  Not me.  Since having babies, I’m a light sleeper (you have to be to do night feedings).  My rooms are PITCH BLACK and if you can’t get true quiet (typical HK apartments), have something that creates some white noise to filter out the noise pollution (Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers and Air Purifiers will suffice).  You’d be surprised how light and noise can kill your sleep cycles.

Sleep train your kids.

I didn’t do this with my first kid, but did it with my second and it has been magical.  I will put her in her crib, give her her stuffed companion, her 5 pacifiers and tell her to go to sleep and she does!  I know it sounds great, that’s because it is, but I didn’t get there easily.  Sleep training takes patience, commitment and consistency - and a bit of a steel heart.  By sleep training your kids, they know how to fall asleep on their own.  This also means that if they wake in the middle of the night, they can fall back asleep without your aid.  Read on How I Got My Baby To Sleep Independently.

Build a routine for your body.

I think my body is so routine that it knows when to shut down - ie: 9:00 PM is nearing and I feel the neuron velocity of my brain slow down.  The one thing I never do is nap.  That will certainly kill my routine.  Some people can nap regularly, and it’s great if it’s a routine thing - but napping might also be a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep.  Again, there’s no right or wrong for a routine, but it’s nice to have one.

Find underlying medical issues.

Some people don’t sleep well because of REAL physical issues - sleep apnea being the most common.  Must husband has it, my dad’s got it and so does probably half of the human population.  It’s merely a question of how severe.  When you’re lacking oxygen in your body, it’ll kill your awareness and definitely make you sleepy.  This is why my husband is ALWAYS tired.  I’m now in the process of convincing him to buy a machine to help his breathing at night and yes, you’re wearing a mask, but what’s more important - how you look when you sleep (just get used to the device) or the quality of your sleep?  Gee,  I wonder.  If you want to know the truth, do a sleep test.  In Ontario, it’s free if you’ve got OHIP.  In HK, might cost you around $10K HKD but most insurance companies cover it.

Let go mentally.

Easier said than done, but necessary.  If you’ve got problems running through your head and that little voice talking to you while you’re trying to sleep, that just defeats the purpose of true rest.  For me, I’ve discovered how to fall asleep in 10 minutes (maybe less but it seems pretty fast).  I think it got to a point where I was so tired (physically) of being a mom, there was no room for thought.  Plus, I’m able to manage my problems efficiently and quickly so it’s not hanging around at night.  I also don’t bring work home (physically or mentally).  Put the phones on silent - even better, turn off the ringers and leave your cell where you can’t hear it.  I know, what about emergencies?  Hmm.. well, maybe put the phone on a low ring and they can call 10 times if it’s an emergency.

No Crowding.

I sleep alone - physically.  And no, it’s not sad.  Ever since we built the custom bunk for Vanessa, she’s sleeping alone and so am I.  If I sleep with my husband, he snores so loud that it wakes me between sleep cycles, so I kick him or tell him to rotate, which in turn, wakes him between sleep cycles.  If I sleep with Vanessa, she kicks me, which also wakes me.  Now, no one kicks me.  It’s fabulous!  Come on, you can find snuggle time with your kids and husband at ANY TIME of the day.  Like I said before, sleeping is sleeping - I have one single focus to achieve that goal.  While co-sleeping is great (I loved it before), great sleeping is better.  To compensate for my co-sleeping loss, if/when the little one wakes, I’ll gather both kids and try to snooze for another 30 minutes.  It ends up becoming a hug fest.