Has life been messing with your sleep lately? Start tracking your sleep with the free printable sleep log and wake up feeling better rested and more energetic than ever before.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t even tell you how many times I start scrolling after the kids are in bed. Suddenly I look up, and it’s 11:32 pm. What can I say? This is my ‘me’ time. Yes, as a Mom, I love running the house, doing my work, and getting the kids all settled. But still, I need time to decompress and just relax. Unfortunately, sometimes it comes at the cost of a good night’s rest.
A few late nights here and there wasn’t a big deal until I started feeling totally exhausted mid-day. I mean, you probably shouldn’t need a late afternoon coffee to power you through the last few hours of the day. And yet, somehow, I ended up here. In a place somewhere between staying up too late and feeling like I had zero energy, even when I slept all night.
Honestly, my sleep was totally out of whack. And so, I decided to try to get back into the groove. Instead of being tired of always being tired, I’d start using a sleep log to try and narrow down where I was missing the mark.
Why Use a Sleep Log?
We all know part of getting a good night’s rest is getting enough shuteye. But how much sleep exactly do you need to consider yourself well-rested? Using a free printable sleep tracker helped me narrow down my optimal amount of slumber.
While oversleeping can be detrimental to your energy, sleep experts also remind us that missing out on high-quality sleep increases the risk for mental health concerns. It also potentially impacts physical health issues like high blood pressure and heart disease.
I don’t know about you, but that was even more reason to start logging my sleep with a free printable sleep tracker. Not to mention getting enough rest is an integral part of good self-care. And while we’re on the topic, tracking habits are a great way to hold yourself accountable.
It’s one thing to say I’ll make time for self-care, but it’s a whole other thing to actually do it. If you already track your water and your steps, tracking your slumber with this sleep log will be as easy as, well, catching a little shuteye.
How to Use the Sleep Tracker Printable
Friends, I promise this free printable sleep tracker is super easy to use. And it will be just as helpful to help you figure out how to get the best quality sleep for your lifestyle.
Here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your sleep log is working for you:
- Print out your choice of a colorful and fun printable sleep log or a more modern black and white version.
- Keep it in a place where it will be top of mind, so you don’t forget to update it before you hit the sheets and when you wake up in the morning.
- Be honest with yourself about your sleep. While you might have intended to go to bed at a certain time, keep track of when you actually tucked in for the night.
Tips for Using a Sleep Tracker (You’ll Actually Stick To)
Now that you understand why and how to use a sleep log, let’s talk about how to fit it into your day-to-day routine. Most important of all, make sure it’s something that works for you, not another item on your to-do list that stresses you out.
Find a sleep tracker that works for you.
This free printable sleep tracker is a great way to get you in the groove and habit of tracking your sleep. If you find yourself looking to collect more specific data about your sleep habits, there are many other options like a wearable tracker.
Work the sleep tracker into your routine.
Remember how I said keep your sleep log somewhere you won’t forget about it? Maybe keep it next to your toothbrush, so you don’t forget to mark it before bed. Or tuck it into your gratitude journal so before bed, when you reflect on how the day went, you can get them both done right then and there.
Make adjustments to your sleep schedule as needed.
After you’ve been logging your sleep hours for a while, you can see if you need to make changes in your sleep habits. For example, do you find yourself going to bed around 9 pm, but you end up tossing and turning until 10:30? Consider pushing your bedtime back.
Use what you learn to get better sleep.
Tracking your sleep is only one tool to use to make sure you’re getting enough rest. But what you do with the information is just as important. On the days you wake up exhausted, think about what the day before looked like.
Did you have a busy evening and were feeling extra stressed? Or maybe you’re more sensitive to caffeine than you have been before, and you should switch to decaf after 10 am.
Tracking your sleep will give you insights into what your body needs to function best. For example, they used to say the average adult needs about seven hours of sleep per night. And while that might be true for some people, I find that I wake up feeling best rested after close to nine hours of solid REM cycles.
Free Printable Sleep Log PDFs
Want to grab the printable sleep log that I use to track my sleep each night to meet my “in bed by 10 pm” goal? Just click the links below to download whichever printable sleep tracker PDF you like best!
Click HERE for the Colored Sleep Log
Click HERE for the Black and White Modern Sleep Tracker
Final Word
Getting enough sleep and rest is critical to our emotional, mental, and physical health. I mean, you know what they say about beauty sleep.
But in all seriousness, getting enough sleep will improve your mental clarity and give you enough energy to get through your day-to-day. Not to mention it will definitely benefit your long-term health. So go ahead and invest in some self-care without spending a dime. Start tracking your sleep today with this free printable sleep log.
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