How to Be as Productive as Possible While Sleep Deprived

Last night (like most nights) I didn’t get much sleep. I wasn’t able to fall asleep until 1am, and my 5 month-old woke up several times throughout the night. We also made the switch to formula a few days ago so I’m also adjusting to having to get up to heat up bottles in the middle of the night-as opposed to just rolling over and offering a boob to my little one. My youngest decided he was ready to wake up at 6:30 as did my oldest who has a fever and cough. My first thought was that it was going to be a rough day, and my next thought was that I needed to get sh*t done. I proceeded to start my morning routine, put my youngest in his carrier and cleaned the kitchen and disinfected every surface in the house. While I was cleaning, I was inspired to write this post. I always have moms ask about how I’m able to function without much sleep when I don’t nap, and considering the fact that I haven’t slept in months I actually feel pretty good most of the time. Since sleep deprivation is pretty common in many seasons of motherhood, I wanted to share some of the things that I do so that I’m still able to function.

1.Stay hydrated

I’ve mentioned this several times, but for years I’ve started my mornings with a huge cup of room temperature water. Doing this first thing in the morning helps you rehydrate, helps rid your body of toxins and kick starts your metabolism. I drink it after taking my supplements followed by a glass of celery or fresh pressed juice. Thirty minutes after drinking the juice I then have my coffee. Keep in mind that if you’re having multiple cups of coffee or other caffeine, you need to drink even more water. Stay hydrated throughout the day to keep your energy levels up. A good rule of thumb is to drink a half ounce to an ounce of water for each pound you weigh (for example, if you weigh 120 lbs , you should drink between 60-120 ounces of water a day).

2. Start the morning off with a quick workout

Another thing I’ve done for a long time is to squeeze in a quick hiit workout in the morning. I find that I have SO much more energy when I do this. No matter how little sleep I got the night before, there is no excuse for me to not do a 10-15 minute workout. I used to just search ‘quick hiit workouts’ on Youtube, but now I use the FitOn app. I love that it’s free and has soo many different workouts to choose from. They have an entire quick hiit section and I just alternate between those throughout the week.

3. Eat plant-based as much as possible

I’ve been a pescatarian for over 10 years and I try to eat plant-based whole foods as much as possible. I notice that I feel so much lighter and more energetic when the majority of the foods I consume are plant-based. I always make sure to have a light lunch since that’s the time of the day when the exhaustion tends to catch up to me. Some of my favorite lunches are salads, smoothie bowls or veggies with a plant-based protein. I also created this Pinterest board with healthy meal ideas if you’re in need of some inspo.

4. Avoid sugar

I have a HUGE sweet tooth, so I try to make healthy baked goods to have on hand so I don’t reach for packaged sweets made with refined sugar. Another reason to avoid heavy meals is that it leads to you reaching for a mid-day pick-me-up that is filled with sugar or caffeine. I don’t know about you guys, but as a busy mom I do not have time for a sugar crash. Opt for a fresh pressed juice or a fruit salad instead so you don’t experience a crash. If you really want a healthier baked good, I created this Pinterest board with some healthier vegan recipes.

5. Dress for success

Let’s be real-when you’re in the season of motherhood where you’re sleep deprived, success might just mean making lunch for your kids or getting the grocery shopping done. No matter how mundane your to-do list might be, it helps to wear something you feel good in. Lately that’s been cute activewear for me. I basically live in Fabletics outfits, and I love that they’re comfy, flattering and affordable. I wear them for school drop-off and pick-ups, during workouts, around the house and when I’m running errands. Both sets I’m wearing in these photos were gifted to me from Fabletics and I’m obsessed with them. Click here to get 2 leggings for $24 with VIP membership sign-up.