Sleep Perspectives

Before I was a parent, I thought sleep was important. It isn't until I went through the mind-numbing sleep deprivation of life with twinfants from 0-6 months that I realized how important. I've written in the past about our sleep training and issues with Sarah and Jessica, and all philosophies and controversies aside, I absolutely stand by the fact that I'm a better parent, when I'm a rested parent. In fact, I'm a better everything. Wife, friend, employee, runner, you name it. I do everything better when I'm rested. 

These days Sarah and Jessica are really good sleepers. We have occasional wet beds that necessitate attention in the middle of the night, but by and large once they are down (which is the very hardest part), they are down until 6:45 a.m. or so, and that was later during daylight savings time. I, in contrast, am not the best sleeper.

I try to be physically in bed by 10 p.m., so I can be up and at them in the morning, but that doesn't mean I've actually wound down for sleep, nor does it mean I'll stay asleep. This article from the New York Times this weekend really caught my attention as it discussed how this situation is nearly epidemic for working mothers. It really hit home with me, since after about a week and half of crappy sleep, I took two Advil PM before I went to bed last night. 

Here are some of the things, Jeff and I are going to try to do to improve sleeping conditions at night. 

• Minimizing after-hours work and screen time - none within 30 minutes of going to sleep
• Adding a white board to the fridge to keep list of the immediate kid/family-related to dos, like the dentist appointments I need to remember to schedule
• No sugar or caffeine after noon
• Herbal tea or warm drink at night - the Chinese say it works

 I'm interested in any other tricks people have discovered or thoughts on the article itself.