Parenting, alongside life in general is often super hectic - so waking up and feeling as if we haven't slept a wink is an all too common experience. Night feeds, night terrors, mid-night toilet runs, musical beds and everything in between, night time, supposedly a time of rest, has become a chaotic stream of 8 hours of hell.
Each morning I tend to wake up as if I've had an hour of sleep, been punched in the face by Mayweather and then swung around the room by the heels of my feet. It's tough, and I feel my mornings always commence with mayhem and irritation - anyone else feel me?
What can we do in order to feel fresh and and in high spirits in the morning? Get ready to say sayonara to puffy eyes, lethargy and that bad morning mood. Here's our advice.
Set bedtime boundaries.
So obviously the primary issue here is getting enough sleep, but how do you do that when you have a toddler that has no concept of time and older kids who have better excuses to refrain from going to bed than your average politician. Well, set boundaries and set them fast. Put an end to the back and forth and 2 hour battle of getting them to sleep (that's the longest it has taken to get my children to sleep, and no, I am not ashamed.) Allow them to tell you one thing that they consider important and one thing only, and when they come up with more shut it down. Once you start implementing stricter bedtime rules - you will be able to get a better night of rest.
Dark Circles
Those bags under your eyes are not flattering, let's keep it real - they never have been and never will be and we've got to do something about them. If you're lacking in sleep because you may have a newborn who obviously needs feeding every couple of hours or a teething toddler then almond oil works amazingly for dark circles. Combine with Vitamin E oil, rub under eyes before bed and give it 2-3 weeks and watch the magic happen.
Break Up With The Snooze
The snooze and I used to be bff's. Every morning she would come over and I would desperately want her to stay - the relationship got toxic and I had to cut her off. You must do the same. The snooze only makes you groggier and more disorientated - as your sleep cycle is reset once you drift back off to sleep, only to confuse your body into thinking it is due another blissful 8 hours.
Get Moving - Exercise.
Nothing works better to get you pumped up than excercise. Try waking an hour before the kids and implement a work out into your morning routine. A 10 minute workout is enough to get your body and mind alert, and will release endorphins that will give you an instant mood pick me up. If excercise isn't your thing then try meditation. This will also help to relax your mind and set your mood for the day and make any challenges you might face easier to handle.
No Noise, No Problem
Ban all forms of electronics at night - especially from the bedroom. It's the place for rest, so why are we creating distractions with TV's, iPads, mobile phones etc. Ensure there is no buzz in your bedroom or risk of distraction by leaving all technology at the door - on the other side of it that is. This will ensure that you are less tempted to scroll through Facebook, instagram and Twitter at ungodly hours.
Fake It With Make Up
So the magical wonders of make-up can fix that fatigued look in minutes. Try brightening up your under eyes with a brighter concealer, ideally one with illuminating properties. This will give the illusion of a brighter and fresher face.