A Book A Day Keeps the Nightmares Away

Happy Monday! I am excited for this week’s resolution: read a book a month. I went to the library this weekend to pick out the perfect book for this month. I actually picked out a book that will help me get ready for Week 4’s Resolution: meditation/spirituality/religion. Like I mentioned in a previous post, (Screen Time Detox), I have been trying to replace my Netflix time with book reading time. This week’s resolution is an extension of this and an attempt to become more disciplined and organized with this practice.

I’m a new mom, so I don’t sleep well. My son just recently started sleeping 5-6 hours a night starting about 9 or 10pm. Even with this amazing new routine, quite the difference from being up every hour with him, I still can’t seem to sleep for more than two or three hours at a time. The lack of noise coming from his room actually wakes me up. It has also been hard to fall asleep at night.

The thoughts race through my mind, “when will he be up next?”, “I wonder how long he will sleep for?”, “Is it too hot in his room, maybe?”, “He’s almost 4 months, that sleep regression will be coming along anytime now!”. I compare the feeling to playing Hide ‘n’ Seek. You’re hiding in the back of the closet while the seeker is just outside the door, you’re heart is racing hoping they won’t find you but you also sense that somehow they know you’re there. I use this sleep technique to help hush those racing thoughts, “How to Fall Asleep in 2 Minutes According to the US Navy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1CWinr5AkI&t=330s. Sometimes it only takes 2 minutes to fall asleep, other times it doesn’t, BUT this week’s resolution has improved my ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Reading before bed instead of scrolling through my phone or making To Do lists for the next day gives my brain the “mental workout” it needs right before bed. When I read before bed, I am better able to do the techniques talked about in the Youtube video above. It was easier to focus on my sleep images and sleep mantras after reading a chapter or two of my book. I was actually amazed at how quickly I was able to fall asleep!

How does replacing screen time for book time impact your life positively?

How do you think reading more would impact your life?

If you don’t want to read more, what other activity do you do to get ready for bed?

How do you make sure you get a good night sleep?