How to Survive on Little Sleep
Another sleepless night has passed. Maybe you had insomnia or the baby kept you up all night or you stayed up too late playing catch-up with work. Whatever the reason, now you're wondering how you'll make it through the day. Here are some tips to help you survive until bedtime rolls around again.
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Instructions
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During the Day
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Snack on protein, such as tuna fish, to give you an energy boost.
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Exercise. It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but taking a brisk walk around the block may help you if you're feeling sluggish.
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3
Catch a catnap during the day, but no longer than 10 to 15 minutes. Any longer than that and you'll feel worse off, and you may have trouble falling asleep at bedtime.
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"Nap when your baby naps" only if you are getting up every few hours for feedings. Once the child is sleeping through the night, you should too.
At Night
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Give yourself time to wind down in the evening. The temptation is to use those evening hours to do everything you couldn't get done during the day, which revs you up again.
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Drink a little chamomile tea and honey, which are natural sedatives, and eat a small snack of low-fat carbs, such as toast with jelly, before you go to bed.
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Sleep the same amount every night, even if it's only six hours. Regular sleeping habits are just as important as the length of time that we sleep.
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Keep your room cool and dark so that you can fall asleep quickly.
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Sleep in an hour later on the weekends if you're able, but no longer than that or it will really mess with your internal clock.
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Try for a half-hour to fall asleep. If you haven't fallen asleep by then, get out of bed and do something else. When you feel drowsy, try to sleep again.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid nicotine and caffeine.
Avoid exercising too close to bedtime. You should try to exercise during the day (morning is best) and no later than three hours before you go to bed.
Avoid pharmaceutical sleeping aids, which can turn into a bigger problem for you.
Avoid big meals before bedtime, which may actually wake you up.
