How Do You Stay Awake?

I nap in the afternoons with my 3 year old and allow my son to watch a dvd sitting on the bed with me...so I know if he leaves. I am much better prepared to fix dinner and finish up other chores after a nap.

Nap when the kiddos nap! That's what i do, and sometimes have found that it really helps get me through the day. :)

I nap with my baby in the afternoon if I know I'm in for a late night. I also plan for my bedtime to coincide with the baby's to increase the amount of time I spend sleeping. A cup of tea in the afternoon works if I am dragging. Also, I let a lot of housework slide.

There is absolutely no substitution for sleep.Your health is far more important than whatever you do until 1am. Get some. Get more! You need at least 7 hours and 8 or 9 is better - yes, 9! If left to sleep, I will naturally sleep 8 to 9 hours. There is no pride in sleep deprivation. Americans just don't get it - enough sleep, that is. Take pride in leading a balanced life, not overworking yourself. I am a HUGE advocate for people getting proper sleep!

Girl!!!! that's only 5 1/2 hours sleep!!! you think you can do ALL THAT on 5 1/2 hours sleep??

your problems are going to get much bigger and scarier if you try to get around your body telling you you NEED MORE SLEEP. a chronically sleep deprived person doesn't do well for all those mandatory body maintenance things that need to happen when we sleep.

i suggest you get over the 'moms work is never done' thing and get yourself some sleep. get over yourself! :) moms work is done when SHE NEEDS HER SLEEP should be your new motto.

so, happy nappin' ;)

Honestly, you need to go to bed at a better time. You are no good to yourself or the kids if you are spending your days less than half charged. I'm a SAHM to a 4yr old and a 9 yr old and I manage to get into bed no later than 11pm during the week and I have to get up at 6:30 when they are in school but I'm up by 7:30 otherwise give or take some time. NO house work it that important to say up till 1am to get done!! Let it go till tomorrow and get your rest :) If you need some help to get organized house cleaning, try Flylady.com. She breaks it all down room by room for each week spreading out the work. Your kids are old enough too to start to learn how to clean up after themselves as well.

Good luck and get some rest!
S.

You are tired because you are not getting enough sleep. This is not healthy and eventually you are going to crash.. Be sure that when you are going to have to drive, you are honest about if you can handle driving the car with your children. Driving tired is just like driving drunk. It is extremely dangerous. Our local tv station did a program about this exact subject.

I used to tell my daughter, "mommy needs a nap". You can take a nap too, or you can play quietly in your room. I would set an alarm and in an hour I would wake up. Sometimes if our daughter was still asleep, I would lay down a little longer. I would have her read me a story, this would also make her drowsy. Or I would make a deal with her. "If you take a nap, we will go swimming for 30 minutes longer today". Or, "I will let you check out 5 more books".. You could have them watch a video for an hour while you catch a nap.

Or sit down and write out everything you are doing and try to slimline the processes.. Only go to the grocery store one time a week. Do a load of laundry first thing in the morning and another, last thing at night.

Make simpler meals 5 times a week and more involved meals only 2 days. Make double amounts and freeze half.. This way they turn into the quick meals.

Have your kids help you fold clothes and put them away. I used to place my daughters clothes in her little shopping cart. She could roll it into her room and put them away.

While your kids are in the tub, clean the sink mirror and toilet. Once they are putting on their PJ's, spray down the tub and have your husband clean the tub. Or while your husband bathes and puts the kids down you put away all of the dinner and dishes. Mop the kitchen floor at night once the kids are being put down, or while your husband is putting them to bed. then take your shower and go to bed.

I don't think there is any magic pill that is going to conquer your exhaustion. It sounds like you simply need to get more sleep. I, too, am a SAHM and know how much there is to do. I've come to terms with the fact that some things aren't going to be done at the end of the day. IMO, if the kids are well-taken care of, there is food in the house, we have clean clothes to wear, the house is safe and in working order, the bills are paid and appointments are met I'm satisfied that I've taken care of the important stuff. Clutter and less important stuff can wait or be handled in little chunks of time that don't keep me up past my bedtime. If I only got 5 1/2 hours of sleep every night I wouldn't be able to function. Taking care of yourself is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself and your family. Best wishes to you.

I don't think anything is wrong with you (e.g. iron deficiency) and I don't think a nap now and then is going to make up for the fact that you are basically going on 5 hours of sleep. You either need to multi-task or decide what can wait but I would make an earlier bedtime a priority.

A mom's work does end. It ends when I can't keep my eyelids open any longer. =) I remember one time I was falling asleep on the couch because my baby was entertaining herself. I must have dozed off for like 5 minutes and when I popped my eyes open, she had all our dvds out of the case and sprawled everywhere bashing them together. I nap when my baby naps or I just leave the last few chores till the next day. Good Luck!

There is nothing that is important enough to be up at 1am.
Drop what ever it is that you are doing at 1am and get to bed no later than midnight. And if your kids nap , take time to rest at least when they do.

I hear you for sure...I am a mother of 11! I found Cornergy to be very helpful to take the edge off my afternoon sleepies. I will say I think you should continue to take a good b complex though because you need it even if it doesn't do what you were hoping it would. Always take care of Mama so you will be there for the family! I am preaching to myself here too! Anyway here is a link straight to the product: http://takecontrol.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=2...
With Shaklee you get your money back if you are not 100% satisfied and they have free membership till the end of the month too! (with a qualifing order)
I wish you the best on your quest to get rid of that afternoon slump!

Sincerely,
K.

Everyone has different sleep needs and requirements. Your body's need for sleep, when you naturally can get to sleep/wake is completely based upon your own circadian rhythms.

It's really common for most people to have an afternoon lull in energy.

Carbs are energy - that's what they biologically provide. Sugars (all kinds of sugars from sucrose to lactose) convert to ADP, the chemical name for energy that all cells require to thrive.

You can give yourself some energy by eating a higher carb breakfast or lunch. Notice that Post's GrapeNuts now call themselves a "High Energy" food because they're higher carb.

Exercise may help as getting your heart rate up tends to increase energy levels.

If I were a SAHM, I'd take advantage of the opportunity to nap, if possible, as well. I do love my naps, though.

Good luck!!

How many kids do you have and how old are they? How come you have to stay up until 1am? Can you take naps during the day?

I am a SAHM too and I too get tired. I am up at 4am and tries to go to bed by 8pm. Sometimes I take naps sometimes I don't because there's so much to do. I have a 9 1/2 month old boy and he keeps me on my toes.

Do you drink tea? i think exercise might help. I walk for an hour every morning.

I say try to sleep earlier if you can. If you are staying up to clean the house or doing other personal things that can wait, I would opt for getting some sleep and don't worry about things that can wait. I know it's easier said than done but in the long run it's better for you I think.

Nap, when your kids are napping.
That is what I do.
I have synchronized my kids' naps, to be at the same time...
Or I just tell them honestly, that I am tired/dont' feel well, and I NEED to rest.... sometimes my son will stay right near me... while I 'rest' and even sing me a lullaby. Then he lays down with me and naps too.

How is your iron intake?
Especially after your period?
I get real tired after my periods... so I take an iron supplement at those times. It helps.

You may also check your thyroid.

Or, if you are averse to coffee... have tea.

all the best,
Susan

Have you really evaluated everything you are doing that keeps you up until 1:00 a.m.? Is there anything you can cut out so you can be in bed an hour earlier? Most (though not all) people need more than 5.5 hours of sleep at night - I find that "giving up" some of the things I do in the evening and getting to bed an hour earlier makes a HUGE difference.

You know... as I get older... I just need more sleep, plain and simple. For the past few years I really can't function on less than 7 hours more than once in a great long while. When my son was born I could still pull an allnighter from time to time, and for 6 months was able to exist on 3 hours of sleep a night max... but the sleep dep seriously took it's toll.

Then for about 4 or 5 years I could average 5hours 6 nights a week as long as I got to sleep myself out at least once a week (racking 12-15 hours). Over the past few though... I need 7.

Caffeine and other mild stimulant actually PUT me to sleep (adhd = opposite caffeine reaction)... so there's nothing I can really take that will keep me up... except for being well rested to begin with.

If I could nap when the kids were napping, I definitely would. I have a daycare and they come and go on such different shifts that their naps are always at different times. If it were just my own, I'd definitely nap.

You can and should make sure you get enough sleep while you are still young. I had no idea that running on so little sleep would cause me so many health problems later in life. I can't undo the problems I have created for myself.

Otherwise, use energy drinks.

I make time for sleep. You may have to go to bed a little earlier even if everything is not done. You're operating on 5.5 hours of sleep, and I think this could lead to a crash. I have a 4 year old who never naps, which means I don't get one in the daytime, so I just have to go to bed when I get tired, even if my house is a mess. It drives me crazy to wake up to a messy house, but if I miss out on my sleep, everyone is miserable!

K.

same here.... and if i sit down around 3 or 4 i conk out. so i dont sit down :) sorry i dont have anything better

I just found out I had an iron deficiency.... that explained why I was worn out. Although the supplement kills my stomach, it does give me more energy.

I take a vitamin that give me energy for the whole day.

Naps are a lifesaver. I also go to bed close to 2 a.m. and am up around 7, work full-time, and have the kids when I'm home (husband works a lot of evenings and Sundays). I do drink coffee but find that it is more habit and that I love the taste. I think drinking a lot of cold water keeps me feeling more refreshed. I also have been known to nod off in the bathroom when my husband is home. If my husband is home in the evening I sometimes squeeze in a short nap right after work while my youngest is napping. I also feel better if I exercise regularly (hasn't been happening lately) so I do try to get that time in, even if it is with the kids. Otherwise, I just deal with my exhaustion. If you can cut out anything you don't have to do and make your bedtime earlier, even by a half an hour, that might help. My husband and I are up late together since he's always worked on a late schedule and we like to see each other for a bit after the kids are asleep. Someday we hope to be on the same schedule. :)

ADDITION

I just read the earlier posts--Michelle S mentioned she had an iron deficiency and I did start feeling less depleted and weak when I started taking an iron supplement every few days. I find I don't feed myself as well as I should sometimes. I also know that sometimes this kind of sleep deprivation becomes downright dangerous. It has not been for a while, but when I was in graduate school I fell asleep driving a few times to a night class. I finally turned around and decided it wasn't worth my life. I've "woken up" at the wheel in traffic a few times, too, which is terrifying and SO dangerous, so I have made more of an effort to get at least five hours a night. It still isn't enough, but it is better than less.

Its an uphill battle isn't it? lol, I feel your pain. You may want to try drinking iced tea or something like that. I like Ocean Spray Cranergy it contains green tea extract, you can get it at the grocery store on the juice aisle.

I found the best thing is exercise. It makes things worse for the first few days, but after that you will start to see and increase in energy that keeps coming. I used to walk to the market every morning at 9 with my kids, and the neighbors would say "how do you get the energy to do that every day" and I would say "I have the energy because I do it every day". :)

Hi L.,

Honestly, try a 15-20 minute nap. These quick cat naps can be very restful without the groggy feeling after, because you do not reach a deep enough sleep.

It will help.

R. Magby