Getting Organized for School (and life!) - Getting Enough Sleep

How was your weekend? Ours was a series of surprises - events we planned to attend turned out to be far different than we expected or canceled due to rain. But our foster daughters were wonderfully flexible and we figured out how to turn it into fun.

In our attempt to get organized before school starts, I'm reposting an article on sleep - one of my all-time non-negotiables. It's impossible to function well without enough sleep ...


One of the nicest gifts you can give to your child is a good night's sleep. My goal as a mom has been to provide an atmosphere of success - creating an atmosphere where my child can succeed.

In order to do this, I must make sure that I have some routines and personal discipline in place so that my home runs smoothly and my child's needs are met. If I am living in chaos, most likely my child will not have a peaceful atmosphere in which to grow, not to mention having food to eat when hungry, clean clothes, and enough sleep to function effectively.

One of my hot buttons is getting enough sleep - for myself and for my children. Neither of us can do well if we are sleep deprived - we're grouchy, slow to respond, and easily stressed.

I came across an article that details what sleep does for us - makes us better athletes and better drivers, helps us grow, reduces stress, helps us learn and remember, and gives us a positive attitude. Several of these have direct impact on school for our children. Click the link above to read the entire article - important information every parent should know.

Summertime usually means a more relaxed schedule and later bedtimes. Begin now to gradually move bedtime to the time that insures your child gets enough sleep each night. If you sense your child is sleep deprived, make it less gradual - you want your child to start school fresh and invigorated! A good indication that your child (or you) is sleep deprived is that he falls asleep when sitting.

In the meantime, observe your child - how much sleep does she need? A good way to tell is to allow your child to wake up naturally for several days. Observe yourself while you're at it, and figure out what time you need to go to bed in order to get enough sleep. It's worth it, but hard to do.

Even if you don't have school-age children, giving your child enough sleep every night creates an atmosphere where he can succeed and function at his peak. And make sure you get enough sleep yourself - you'll be such a better parent and a much better you!

If you need help making this happen, check out one of our time management books on our website.

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More on sleep:
9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized
Insuring Peak Performance: Sleep 101
Sleep is Non-negotiable!
Getting a Good Night's Sleep Despite Daylight Savings