Day 3 of the 10x10 sleep challenge brings more participant feedback.
“I’ve tried to go to bed at 10, but I have kids. They were up at all times before and after 10 p.m. I like the idea of getting ready for bed at 10, but my situation makes it difficult.”
That’s great feedback. Lots of people have kids. Anybody who has raised kids knows how inconvenient or unreliable they can be. To the parents whose kids go to bed before 8 PM and sleep for 12 hours, consider yourself extremely lucky. Some of us have kids that make every night an adventure. If you’re one of those people, you can still participate in this challenge. If you wind down and slide into bed at 10:00 only to hear your child at 10:02, you can’t ignore them. This is a challenge where the spirit of the law matters more than the strict interpretation. Doing the things that get you ready for bed and set you up for a good night sleep will still help you sleep better than if you stayed up late surfing the internet and then dealt with kids. People face their own challenges. Every situation can’t be detailed out. Do the best you can and be honest with yourself. Either you’re trying to get to bed early enough or you’re not. Do what you can, try your hardest to make it work, and don’t worry if real responsibilities require some modification on your part. The preparation and intent are part of the habit change. Remember, this isn’t just a challenge. It’s also a process.