Click here to listen to the podcast version of this post!
Ah…the well-rested homemaker…does she exist?
Maybe not in every season of life, but as women pursuing femininity–and homemakers at that– we ought to prioritize our precious sleep if and when we can!
Most of us here agree that the whole #hustleculture and #teamnosleep vibe isn’t for us. As I’ve grown in this role as a homemaker over the last 3 years, I’ve learned that sleep is a vital investment in my life. Yes, as homemakers we work extremely hard — but rest (REAL rest) is crucial in developing and maintaining that feminine spark!
It seems counterproductive to sleep more to get more done…
But by going about your duties WELL-RESTED – you’re going to be far more efficient. You will be more focused and energetic and you will respond to stress better (that’s right — you may not be able to reduce your stress-load — but you can actually improve your ability to handle it!).
I have research linked to these claims. But I hardly feel like I need them. Everything is better when well-rested – let’s face it!
An important note to mention is being sleep-deprived is not an excuse for our sin! However, when we’re well-rested – we make it easier to go about our days with joy in our hearts. Life as a Biblical woman often requires us to perform under less than desirable circumstances. We are called to do so; however, I would argue if we can offer up the best version of ourselves for God’s work, we ought to.
God designed us to require sleep – this is evident in the ever present evidence on what even small amounts of sleep deprivation do to your mood, cognitive function, immune function, and insulin responses!
Women actually need MORE sleep than men. This isn’t because we are lazier. The science is out on this statement — but most articles cannot explain exactly WHY women need more sleep. (In fact, most articles try to blame societal expectations on women…instead of admitting that we are indeed the weaker vessel ;))
Sleep is the ultimate hormone-balancing tool.
Sleep is where you need to go FIRST when you are having any kind of health concern. Supplements, dietary changes, and workouts will do next to nothing if you aren’t sleeping well. I think about this in high school and my early 20s. I had many health concerns (horrible acne, migraines, weight problems, mood issues, allergies) and I had the WORST sleep habits.
Sleep and stress go hand-in-hand. It’s a vicious cycle, too, because the less sleep you get – the more cortisol you produce, the LESS progesterone you produce, which makes you more stressed AND you don’t respond to stress well, which often makes it harder to get to sleep at night…and the cycle continues…
PROGESTERONE is the ultimate feminine hormone:
“Progesterone plays a role in maintaining pregnancy. The hormone is produced in the ovaries, the placenta (when a woman gets pregnant) and the adrenal glands. It helps prepare your body for conception and pregnancy and regulates the monthly menstrual cycle. It also plays a role in sexual desire.” (healthywomen.org)
Symptoms of low progesterone include low libido, hot flashes, migraines/headaches, depression/anxiety/mood changes, menstrual cycle irregularity or absence, and MORE!
Interestingly enough, low progesterone can actually cause estrogen dominance. If you’re involved in the crunchy-community at all– you know talk about estrogen dominance is all-the-rave right now. The thing is, if you suffer from estrogen dominance and the root-cause is low progesterone because of sleep deprivation, switching from plastic to glass food storage containers isn’t going to get you very far!
Sleep deprivation also kills your sex drive! There are many different factors involved in the female sex drive; Notably, our bodies prefer a degree of safety in order to be ‘in the mood’ and thus, to have babies. More on this coming soon!
Proper sleep will help you protect and nurture your femininity.
We will discuss stress & femininity more in the future but getting good sleep is really the best place to start. The supplement and health industry wants you to think you need their fancy, special supplement, oil blend, or diet-book in order to heal. I fell victim to this belief for many years and I promise none of those things can do what quality, consistent sleep can.
I recommend a sleep tracker app like sleep cycle (not sponsored) for a few days or weeks just to get an idea of where you’re at. Take note of how much sleep you get, what time you went to bed and woke up on mornings you feel exceptionally rested (and when you don’t).
HOW TO GET MORE SLEEP & STILL BE PRODUCTIVE
Like I mentioned before, getting more sleep will likely increase your productivity, even if you technically have less time. If you are struggling getting enough sleep and being productive, you may benefit from these tips:
Have “hustle” Days: These are a few days a week you decide you will get up early AND work through nap time. Do this once or twice a week and commit to getting as much done as you can! The other days you can sleep in, take a nap, or do BOTH depending on what your needs are and the season of life you’re in.
Consider Bed Sharing or Sleep Training: I have done both. You don’t have to pick a side, regardless of what various insta accounts will tell you. Sleep training doesn’t mean leaving your child alone to scream himself to sleep, bed sharing doesn’t mean you and your husband will never have sex!
Work to Improve Sleep Quality: Blackout curtains were a game changer for us. Making sure I get outside every day helps a lot, too! Other factors might include screen-time, sound machines, and eating too close to bedtime (some are the opposite and need to eat a snack before bed — so just try things out to see what works best for you!)
SLEEP is the ultimate chain-reaction habit! The disciplined habit of a good night’s rest sets me up to be successful in pretty much every other area of my life.
Ladies, don’t overlook this crucial ingredient to health!
Until next time! Happy homemaking!
Chandler