7 Tips to Help You Survive the Day After a Sleepless Night
I haven't met a mom yet who hasn't had her share of sleepless nights. Some of us experience them more than others, but none of us love them. Even if you love the bonding time that you may have with your infant in the wee hours of the night, I'm sure you don't enjoy the fatigue you experience the next day.
So how do we survive the day after these sleepless nights? How do we spend our day as a well-functioning mom when we just spent the night without any rest? It's not easy, but it is possible. I can honestly say that I have tried all of these tips at some point and they really do help me make it through the day. Of course, the best way to survive the day is to take a long nap, but I know that is rarely possible.
Hang in there. The only thing tougher than a sleepless night is making it through the next day. I hope these tips help.
1. Drink a tall glass of cold water. Most of us go for coffee or tea (I do, too), but a glass of water is actually one of the best things for your body when it's tired. Not only should you drink water as soon as your wake up, but be sure to stay hydrated throughout the day.
2. Cut back your to-do list. I know you have a 101 things to do, but you honestly won't do any of them well when you are exhausted. Unless it's something important, like an appointment with the doc, just put it off until a day when you are more rested.
3. Go for a walk. You just want to rest on the couch while the baby is in the highchair, but throwing on some sneakers and strapping your baby into the stroller for a 30-minute walk will work wonders. The exercise is great, and if it's a sunny day, the extra rays will give you a boost of energy, too.
Related: How to FINALLY Feel Good About Your Body After Having a Baby
4. Eat a healthy breakfast. Skipping breakfast, or eating something high in sugar and low in nutritional value, won't do you any good. I know it usually just makes me feel more tired. A healthy breakfast is definitely the way to go, and don't forget to snack throughout the day.
5. Take a power nap. If your little one naps for over an hour and you just feel like you can't do the same because you have so much to do, remember that there is definitely some benefit in taking a short power nap (10-20 minutes can work wonders).
6. Have some caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant, so it can definitely help, but it should be used in moderation. Also, avoid drinking it late in the day, and be careful if you don't typically consume caffeine because it can make you jittery (and please consult your doctor about consuming caffeine if you are breastfeeding).
7. Take a (cold) shower. A cold shower really does wake you up, but if you just can't roll with it a warm shower will do. Some moms can barely find the time to shower at all, so any shower helps. If you didn't sleep much the night before, take a moment to start your day with a shower.
- By Martine Foreman
For 5 ways to get older siblings involved with baby, visit Disney Baby!
