Sleep Goals Instead of New Year’s Resolutions
New Year's resolutions are notoriously unsuccessful (and can ultimately make people feel bad and like a failure). But here’s the good news about sleep goals: They are life-changing AND highly successful.
Healthy sleep is life-changing because, for example:
Babies who sleep well are twice as likely to turn into children who sleep well.
When babies get healthy sleep, the prefrontal cortex is activated and able to absorb new words and learn new skills. This makes well rested babies like learning machines!
Preschoolers who get 11-12 hours of nighttime sleep are better able to regulate their emotions, because the limbic system (emotional center of the brain) is integrated with the rest of the brain.
Teens who sleep at least 8 hours a night are half as likely to struggle with mental health issues.
Adults who have regular, healthy sleep have reduced inflammation, which improves cardiovascular health, among many other benefits.
Teens and adults who want to assess and improve sleep: Use the SLEEP CHALLENGE. This is a great tool, from our newest book, for measuring sleep and changing habits.
How much sleep does your family need?
Sleep goals are highly achievable and successful, because:
Sleep is natural and the brain is programmed to do it. Babies who are at least 5 months are capable of shifting to independent sleep and 11-12 hour nights in under a week. Name a New Year’s resolution that scores so quickly!
Independent sleep and healthy attachment are natural partners. The Sleep Wave approach satisfies both.
When you work on independent sleep, your baby or child’s capability shines and you both feel good about it – as you see them finding their self-soothing abilities, feeling confident, letting new skills emerge and filling up on sleep. Parents tell us all the time that they are so proud of their babies and surprised at how capable they are. Supporting them to sleep confidently for 11-12 hours and take good naps just feels good for both parents and babies! Experiencing such rapid, life-changing success motivates parents to hold onto their consistent plan over time. This makes it stick.
For grownups, New Year’s resolutions often have to do with fitness and diet. Improving your sleep regularity and duration helps your body achieve healthy metabolism and weight regulation. Healthy sleep lowers inflammation and balances your appetite hormones. So, if you’re working out or improving your nutrition, but sleeping poorly, you won’t get the best results. Getting enough sleep automatically sets you up for success.
Accomplishing a sleep goal is the ultimate new year’s resolution. Sleep is foundational to so many of the aspirations we have in our family life — like improved health, better relationships, more enjoyment of our time together, and boosted learning. Well-slept babies and kids lead to well-slept parents - everyone feels better, healthier, and happier.
Happy New Year and Happy Sleeping!
For step by step guides to reaching your sleep goals, explore our online classes. (20% off until January 15).