Week Two: Sleep
The past several nights I have slept well for seven to eight hours each night, and Millie has slept all night in her own bed. My sleep goals that I set in the last post have been met!
After Millie kept me up, I began doing some research into the possible downsides of letting your dog sleep in your bed. Did you know that sleeping with your pet in your bed not only can cause poor quality sleep, but can also make you ill? Because it is rare, I don’t worry too much about contracting a disease from my pet, but the findings in both of these articles are enough to motivate me to continue to keep my bed pet-free.
What did I do to improve my sleep? First, I shared my goals with my husband since he is my “support person”. I asked him to remind me and support me in making my desired changes. Also, I thought my dog might be getting up because she was feeling cold during the night, so I put a large cozy blanket in her bed. I was also prepared with some doggie treats on the nightstand, so I could train her to go back into her bed if she got up during the night.
As it turned out, I did not even need to use the treats! I just put Millie in her bed, with her blanket, and the past four nights she has not made a sound. I have been sleeping throughout the night, and feel more refreshed in the morning.
Another discovery that I have made is that it is important for me to have a bedroom that is tidy and conducive to sleep which means no distractions like a computer, a TV or paperwork.
So far, I am surprised at how easy the changes have been. The energy benefits of improved sleep have helped me not to miss snacking in the evening or limiting caffeine, I am well rested, and so is my dog! I imagine that that those around me have benefited from my improved sleep and decreased stress, too, as I am much more patient.
At first I thought that it may be overwhelming to have a “list “ of healthy behaviors I had to tick off each day, but I continue to look forward to yoga, deep breathing, and a good night’s sleep.
The Routine Reboot is already at the halfway point! How are all of you doing with your chosen behavioral changes?
Have you thought about your next challenge? Mine will be exercise.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Cathy