It’s the beginning of a brand new year. And I’m sure there are plenty of goals you want to achieve in 2023. Maybe you’re planning to head to the gym more often. Maybe you’re thinking about making a few changes to your diet. Maybe you’d like to spend more quality time as a family. And these are all great goals to have!
But I’m going to put my Sleep Consultant hat on for a second and argue that getting more sleep in 2023 should be at the top of your list when you’re making your New Year’s Resolutions. For parents, this means you need to work to help your little ones build healthy sleep habits so you can finally kick the bedtime battles, early morning wakings, nonexistent nap times, and all of the other sleep struggles that can cause your family to get less sleep than they need.
And I know that that is all easier said than done…so if you need a little help you know who to call! (Hint: It’s me. Your favorite Sleep Consultant!)
But if like a lot of other moms you’re thinking, “Sure more sleep would be great, but I have a lot of other things going on and a lot of other goals I’d like to set in 2023.” Believe me, I know how it goes. But today I want to argue in favor of sleep by showing you just a few of the scientifically proven benefits that come with you and your little ones getting a healthy amount of sleep.*
- Sleep promotes growth, since growth hormones are secreted during sleep.
- Children who get an adequate amount of sleep have stronger immune systems
- Studies show that children who get enough sleep perform better in school, have a higher vocabulary, and are better problem solvers.
- Sleep is linked to faster motor skill and cognitive development
- Children who get enough sleep are less likely to develop mental health issues like anxiety and depression
- Lack of sleep is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and risk of stroke.
- People who continually do not get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, as sleep affects our metabolism and how our body handles fats.
- When we sleep, our brains process long-term memories, which means the better we sleep the better our memories are.
I could go on and on about sleep…but I’m sure you get the point. Sleep really affects almost every aspect of our health, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Helping your family develop healthy sleep habits and sticking to a sleep schedule that allows for adequate sleep can be a serious game changer.
So I’ll say it again, make sure you make sleep a priority in 2023. And of course, if your family is facing sleep struggles, you don’t have to go it alone. Schedule a free no-obligation Sleep Evaluation to learn more about Sleep Training and what it looks like to work with a Sleep Consultant like me. Let’s make 2023 the year you finally get the sleep you’ve been dreaming of.
*Sources:
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important