1. Set Multiple Alarms
I know this sounds silly, but you never know what could happen in the middle of the night. The power might go off, the battery could die, and your outlet could even short. It’s better to have a back up alarm, like the one on your cell phone set than to make the joyous, “I’m running late” call to your boss. No one wants to hear the tone of their voice on the other side of the line then.
2. Get into a Routine
I don’t mean plan your life from the moment you get home. It doesn’t have to be quite so stagnant, but your body does like a bit of order, so before you crawl back into bed, here are a few things to think about.
– Lay out your clothes.
Do you spend the majority of your morning ironing or trying things on? Get it out of the way in a stress free environment without the clock ticking. Believe me it’s better, and the morning will be calmer, possibly enjoyed, because you will not feel the frenzy of being rushed.
– Strategize time.
If you plan on waking up and taking a shower, getting the kids ready for school, making lunches, and checking the mail, don’t give yourself fifteen minutes to cram it in. You’ll just end up looking like a crazed Cruella Deville, wild eyed and wet headed, and who knows what your children will be eating at noon. Be honest with yourself, and better yet, do things the night before, that way the morning isn’t such a hassle.
3. Turn out the Light
People today often laugh at the idea of eight hours of sleep because they are overworked and stressed, going to bed with thoughts of jobs, friends, and family tramping through their dreams and keeping them awake. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are numerous ways you can improve your sleep pattern. One of the easiest is to try and arrange a sleep schedule, or go to sleep at the same time on a regular basis, that way your body finds a mental clock, kind of a comfort zone, but the most effective is to remove all light from your room. I mean everything. No blinking VCR, flashing cell phones, or the DVR that shines like a radar. Cover them up, turn them over, or throw them out. I don’t care- and soon you won’t either, because it will make a big difference in the way you sleep.
4. Eliminate the Noise
Somehow we’ve gotten into the idea that TV puts us to sleep, but unfortunately its humor, thought provoking plots, and twisted characters keep us awake long after it has been silenced. The radio also has to go, even if it’s softly playing classical. All noise keeps a part of your brain active, so 30 minutes before you plan on going to sleep, turn everything off and prepare to wind down. That silence plays a large part in your body’s mental processing. So, as you begin to get ready for bed, soak up the tranquility and brush your teeth, put on your pjs, and remove your make up, you can even turn the lights down low (an extra way to kick it up a notch).
5. Have a Bribe Ready
Let’s face it, getting up is not fun. More often than not, we are not excited about where we are going and for a good couple of minutes we’ve got sticky eyes, aching backs, and desperate thoughts of rolling over. Well, snap out of it! Raise your head, rub your eyes, and crack your back, because the longer you snuggle the later and more hectic your day becomes.
I’ve discovered a great way to drag yourself out of bed is with a bribe. Be smart though. Don’t make promises you won’t keep or say stuff that isn’t there; if your bribe is false from the get go, you know you’re not moving. No, play on your weaknesses, like coffee. Have a maker that you can set on a timer so it will be ready when you get (or need) to get up, so you can smell its tantalizing aroma wafting into your room. Buy those ready-made pancakes (they taste just the same); have the newspaper delivered (if you buy it anyway, you’re saving a bundle); you can do basically anything just don’t forget to watch the time!
Good Luck!
