Does Getting More Sleep Solve Everything?

If asked to make a list of negative things impacting the harmony of my family, these items are definitely close to the top:

· Parents struggling with weight gain and lack of energy

· Tired in the morning – difficult to get moving

· Lack of patience – parents and kids

· Kids squabbling more than ‘normal’

· Kids having trouble focusing at school and with homework

Could all our issues be impacted by each of us getting more sleep?

Recent studies suggest more sleep could be the solution!

The Mayo Clinic says sleeping less than 5 hours nightly can cause weight gain. The study suggests that lack of sleep affects hormones, which play a role in our metabolism. It also reminds us that people who are experiencing fatigue, have less motivation to exercise.

Since having children, my husband and I have allowed our hectic schedules to impact our sleep. We stay up late at night to catch up on work, or to have ‘alone time’, when the kids are in bed. Who knew that the pounds we have gained could be the result of late nights??

Mornings are a hectic time in our house. We often say “we are not morning people”. We tend to get frustrated with each other and our tight morning schedule. The kids sometimes go through 5 pairs of socks each, searching for a comfortable pair. The sock experience often leads to more lack of patience – all spiralling into short tempers and a negative start to the day.

We have also noticed that both children sometimes struggle following detailed direction, or focusing on a defined task, without continued prompting. According to the CAMC Institute, some symptoms typically associated with ADHD may actually be attributed to sleep problems. Sleep problems can lead to lack of focus and irritability – both causing issues in school.

So what will we do about it? Consider my family a live experiment!! Effective today, my husband and I plan to be in bed by 10pm nightly. Even though our kids go to bed at 8:30pm, one or both often remain awake, later in the evening. Perhaps if they see us sleeping earlier and don’t feel they are missing something great, they will slumber earlier too.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for updates!!

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