How to Develop a 10 Minute Bedtime Routine (That Will Have You Sleeping Like a Kid)

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Sleeping like a kid doesn’t have to be as difficult as it might seem. Developing a routine is key and here’s how to make that happen!

This is post is sponsored by the Better Sleep Council. Thanks for supporting Project Motherhood!

Want to sleep like your kids? Here’s how!

I find myself envious of Branden and Blake some days. They are able to play with such joy, no care in the world about anything (as it should be) and somehow have the best sleep ever every single night. Branden has always been our great sleeper, while Blake is just now getting into a really great routine. She sleeps so sound that whenever I wake her up in the morning to start her day, she literally jumps out of bed and bolts down the hall – not even a second can be spared for a good morning hug. I can only imagine what I could accomplish with energy like that! I have to say that over the past year or so, these two have really inspired me to learn (yes, I feel like I needed to re-learn how to get better sleep as an adult) to sleep like a kid. With this month being Better Sleep Month, I’m so excited to be working with The Better Sleep Council to share what I’ve learned over the years.

Established in 1978, the Better Sleep Council was formed by bedding leaders and sleep experts who represent a cross-section of the sleep products industry, with the noble goal of helping people start every day with a good night’s rest. They are a wealth of knowledge for everything from research, sleep tips, mattress education and more.

How to Develop a 10 Minute Bedtime Routine

As a busy mom, I’ve found that routine is key whenever it comes to so many different areas of my life – including getting better sleep. Whenever the end of the day rolls around I honestly feel like I have nothing left to give the world and I’m sure so many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. We give and we give all day long and once the kids are in bed we kinda just want to melt into the couch. Sound familiar?

We need that time to unwind at the end of the day and it helps us to recharge and let any stress wash away. However, I’ve found that after I get my latest Netflix binge under my belt for the evening, having a simple, 10 minutes bedtime routine, like we do with our children, helps us relax to a point where better sleep starts to happen more naturally – and then we get to sleep like a kid again!

Here’s how I make that happen:

10 minutes before bed means no electronics. I allow my phone to sit by my bed, but it goes on vibrate and is turned upside down because this routine is for me and not for social media.
I center myself with some lavender essential oil. You might not be into this, but I have found that the routine of it and the smell is very calming for me. As an alternative, you can always diffuse oil or light a candle.
Read a book. A good old fashioned book. No kindle to stimulate your eyes.
Keep a pad of paper and a pen at your bedside. I tend to think of things that I need to remember during this time of day and make sure to write them down for the next day. This removes the stress of forgetting and anxiety about the next day for me.
Turn out the lights and catch some ZZZZZs!