Getting enough sleep as a caregiver is vital if you\u2019re going to keep pushing yourself. You have to have a sleep schedule that works for you and that might mean making some changes to what you\u2019re currently doing.<\/p>\n
Give Yourself a Stopping Time<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s really common as a caregiver to tell yourself that you\u2019ll do one more thing or just two more things and then head to bed. But then those tasks take longer than you expect and you\u2019re up until the wee hours of the morning. One way around this is to set a stopping time for yourself that you stick to. Whatever doesn\u2019t get done by then gets done the next day.<\/p>\n Allow Time to Wind Down<\/strong><\/p>\n Your stopping point needs to be early enough in the evening that you also have time to wind down and prepare mentally and physically for bed. Ideally you\u2019ll need at least an hour or two. One easy way to figure out timing is to narrow down when you typically want to go to sleep and back your way up to your ideal stopping time.<\/p>\n Determine What Activities Help You Prepare for Sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n Everybody is different, of course. Some people like to read before bed while others prefer a bath and a snack. Do a little bit of brainstorming about what helps you to relax and to wind down from your day. Once you have a list, you can determine which of those activities you want to build into your routine for getting ready for sleep.<\/p>\n