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Are you a new parent? If so, it’s safe to say you’re tired these days. No one can prepare you for the sleepless nights, constant overnight feeding and never-ending diaper changes. If you are struggling in the sleep department due to a lack of sleep, you’re not alone.
Sleep impacts everything about who we are: your mood, energy, immune system and overall health. And until we don’t get enough sleep, you may not realize how essential it is to our capability to show up for ourselves and our babies. Let’s talk about why sleep is so important, why parenthood requires such a high level of emotional capacity and how chiropractic care can help you get back on track with your sleep.
Sleep is so important!
Quality sleep is essential. Our mood, emotions, interactions, relationships and productivity depend on a good night’s rest. When we receive consistently adequate sleep, our physical body, cognitive functioning and emotional awareness can function fully and optimally.
Sleep does so many important things for the human body:
- Boosts energy - our overall mood and productivity relies on good sleep
- Enhances immune system - sleep lets the body fight off allergens and infections
- Increases sense of stability and control - sleep regulates our ability to feel strong, stable and reasonable, in both our bodies and minds
- Helps cognitive functioning - quality sleep can improve attention, concentration, decision making skills and memory
- Lowers risk of illness and disease - good sleep will help the immune system function optimally to fight off sickness
- Regulates mood and emotions - you can avoid feelings of irritability, anxiousness and depression with adequate sleep
- Restores and rejuvenates the body - sleep gives the rest that the body requires to make repairs and clear out toxins
Our day to day activities and ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle are rooted in our ability to function, make smart decisions and show empathetic awareness to others, especially our children.
Parenthood requires a lot of emotional capacity
Navigating parenthood can be overwhelming. As soon as your little one is born, there is suddenly a whole new meaning to life. There is so much weight in knowing that you are suddenly responsible for raising another human being. Raising your children to be kind, responsible, reliable, aware humans in this big world is both challenging and demanding. For all of the above reasons, parenthood requires a lot of emotional capacity.
As parents, it’s no secret that taking care of ourselves often goes to the back burner. Our priorities, our health and our sleep can all go to the wayside as we work to provide for our children emotionally and physically. Redirecting your energy and shifting your priorities to take care of yourself is arguably more important than answering your child’s every request. Showing up for yourself is frankly the best thing you can do for your child. When you care for you, you will care for them even better. And best of all, your child will see firsthand the importance of self-care!
Chiropractic care helps with sleep
If you are struggling with sleep, chiropractic care can help improve your sleep! Regular chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to healthy sleep hygiene. With gentle, safe and effective chiropractic adjustments, your sleep will not only improve but will enhance your daily life.
Chiropractic care does so much for bettering your sleep:
- Calms the nervous system - balances the parasympathetic (rest/digest) and sympathetic (fight/flight mode) nervous systems
- Improves brain/body communication - a balanced nervous system keeps the pathway for communication open for necessary neural messaging between the brain and body
- Improves mobility - relaxed muscles allow the biomechanics of the body to mobilize more freely
- Lowers pain and discomfort - assesses and realigns subluxations, or misalignments, in the spine to improve healing and restoration
- Provides relaxation - releases tension and tight muscles
- Reduces stress and anxiety - a calm nervous system lowers feelings of anxiousness
Healthy sleep is not only one of the best things you can do for yourself, but for your baby too! As your sleep quality and quantity improves, so will your mood, energy, immune system and overall health and well-being. Taking care of yourself by prioritizing healthy sleep habits and routine will allow you to be the parent you want to be!