A lot of busy mothers find it hard to relax in the evenings. If that’s you, never fear – here are some tips to make it easier…
Make Timetables
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Okay, okay, it’s true – making timetables doesn’t really sound like the most relaxing way to spend an evening. But a lot of the time, for busy parents especially, the guilt of what you should be doing often means that you find it hard to relax and regain your strength and energy for the next day. If you make a timetable of things that have to be done on specific days, you’ll feel much better about letting yourself sit down, watch some TV, and chill out. Sure, the laundry basket might be full, but you won’t feel too bad about not emptying it if you already know that’s a task for tomorrow instead.
Change Your Living Space
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Many of us spend most of our evenings in a den or living room – if this is the case with you, then you need to make sure that it’s a relaxing space for you to spend some time in. The key word to consider is comfort. No couch is worthy of your money unless it feels as though you’re sitting on a cloud – with no other piece of furniture is comfort quite so essential (other than with your bed!). Add pillows and blankets so that you can snuggle up and stay cozy, and invest in a streaming service so that you can keep up to date on the best TV shows and movies.
Start A Bedtime Routine
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If you have problems sleeping then you might need to start a whole new bedtime routine. Make sure that you turn off your electronics at least an hour before you go to bed, and drink a warm cup of tea like matcha green tea or perhaps valerian tea when you get into bed. You could also try taking a warm bath or shower to lull your body into feeling much sleepier.
Teach Your Kids To Sleep Alone
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If you have kids, you might have realised that you often get woken up by them. Okay, not ‘might’ – you’ve definitely realised that happens! With small babies and toddlers, this is often inevitable and simply a difficult time that needs to be got through until they’re a little older. Co-sleeping can often help this because you can simply nurse your baby back to sleep from the comfort of your own bed. But if your older kids are coming to wake you up at night or demanding to sleep in your bed, it’s time for you to put an end to that – your own sleep is important and you’ll be a better parent during the day if you’re not exhausted from staying up all night and being rudely awoken at four am with an accidental kick to the mouth from your seven year old’s grubby foot. Lead your children back to their beds calmly if they come and wake you up – although it might be hard to begin with, they will definitely start to understand in a week or so, and remain in their own rooms.
