Moms Who Inspire: Arianna Huffington

Courtesy of The Huffington Post

Arianna Huffington is starting a conversation around something so many of us moms talk about on adaily basis, sleep. Her new book, The Sleep Revolution, is transforming the way we view our shut-eye,and challenging the idea that the less time you rest, the more you accomplish.

Arianna’s passion for sleep started in 2007, when she passed out and woke up in a pool of blood from abroken cheekbone with a cut over her eye.

Her diagnosis: exhaustion.

Arianna thought, as a lot of us do, that if you want to be successful in work, family, and life in general,sleep is the first thing to go. However, when she realized how her lifestyle had affected her health, shemade the decision to change the way she lived. When Arianna started prioritizing sleep, she was able toshow up as a mom, boss and friend like never before. Now, she’s transforming the way we think aboutsleep and why it’s so important.

ANNA GANNON NOVEMBER 17, 2016M O M S W H O I N S P I R E

MOMS WHO INSPIRE: ARIANNA HUFFINGTONY O U A R E R E A D I N G

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I originally wanted to interview Arianna Huffington because, well, she’s Arianna Huffington. But afterreading her book and listening to countless interviews, I realized that Arianna is so much more than justa name. To me, Arianna is asking questions and bringing awareness around how we’ve been operatingin regards to our well-being and why our society is running down a rabbit hole of burnout.

Arianna is leading a true revolution. She has started a new company in the wellness space called ThriveGlobal that’s fighting for change in our work, family lives, self-care and of course, sleep.

In short, Arianna’s telling us to prioritize our wellness. She’s teaching us that when can do less andachieve more, and that we can get a full night’s rest and be an even better parent, employee, partner,and friend. It’s because of this that I’m so happy to share her insight with you below.

Dive in, dig deep, and listen closely.

1. You mention in your book that your mother was adamant about the importance of sleep for yourYou mention in your book that your mother was adamant about the importance of sleep for yourhealth and happiness when you were growing up. What were some of the ways that your motherhealth and happiness when you were growing up. What were some of the ways that your motheringrained this in you and what advice do you have for new mothers who want to encourage theingrained this in you and what advice do you have for new mothers who want to encourage thesame positive sleep habits in their families?same positive sleep habits in their families?

Yes, she was. Even though my mother and my sister and I shared a one-bedroom apartment, my

https://www.thriveglobal.com

mother made sure that sleep was prioritized.

If someone needed to stay up late, they did it outside the bedroom, so either my sister or I couldsleep.

And, of course, sleep is always challenging for new mothers. But the way to get good, healthy sleephabits for the family is for the mother – and father – to model those good habits. Not only is that agood example, but it helps parents deal with the inevitable challenges of raising a family. It’s likethey say on planes: in the event of an emergency, secure your own oxygen mask first before helpingothers.

2. Knowing what you know about the importance of sleep now, how would you have handled the firstKnowing what you know about the importance of sleep now, how would you have handled the firstmonth differently as a new mom? What practices would you have put in place for yourself tomonth differently as a new mom? What practices would you have put in place for yourself toensure that you got as much sleep as possible?ensure that you got as much sleep as possible?

Like I said, sleep is hard to come by as a new mother. But if I’d know about all the different – andseemingly endless – benefits of sleep, like decision-making, emotional well-being and being able tobe fully present, I would have tried harder (yes, easier said than done). But at the time, there wasn’tas much awareness of sleep as a health issue not just for the baby but for the mother.

3. With the way America’s maternity leave is set up, many women have to go back to work a month ifWith the way America’s maternity leave is set up, many women have to go back to work a month ifnot a few weeks after giving birth. As a mother you know how little sleep you get when caring for anot a few weeks after giving birth. As a mother you know how little sleep you get when caring for anewborn. How do you think the current maternity status in America is affecting new mother’snewborn. How do you think the current maternity status in America is affecting new mother’shealth when it comes to lack of sleep and what do you think we can do to fix it?health when it comes to lack of sleep and what do you think we can do to fix it?

America doesn’t have a great infrastructure of support for new mothers – or new families, becauseall of this should be about including fathers in the mix, too. And this is especially true relative toother countries. So what we need is better family leave policies – for both mothers and fathers. Wealso need greater access to affordable, quality daycare and universal pre-k. And we also need thefact that sleep is a health issue reflected in health and wellness plans.

4. Our most popular meditations on Our most popular meditations on Expectful are our pregnancy and new motherhood Sleepare our pregnancy and new motherhood SleepMeditations. As an expert on sleep and as someone who’s been meditating since the age ofMeditations. As an expert on sleep and as someone who’s been meditating since the age ofthirteen, why do you think sleep and meditation seem to complement each other so much?thirteen, why do you think sleep and meditation seem to complement each other so much?

They’re completely symbiotic. They both help us deal with stress on an ongoing basis, making usmore mindful and less likely to react to stressful situations out of emotion or anger.

5. You admit in your book that you used to work all night, sacrificing sleep so that you could be theYou admit in your book that you used to work all night, sacrificing sleep so that you could be theperfect mother during the day. What advice do you have for moms who are trying to balanceperfect mother during the day. What advice do you have for moms who are trying to balancemotherhood and career?motherhood and career?

To push their workplaces to prioritize well-being, part of which is acknowledging that families are akey part of this. You shouldn’t have to hide your family and your family needs from work. Familiesneed time and dedication and no business can ultimately succeed by forcing their workers tochoose. So, yes, it’s not easy, but change happens slowly, and if they don’t already know it,businesses should be made aware that allowing workers to bring their whole selves to work willultimately benefit their bottom line.

Are you pregnant or new to motherhood?

Expectful is a digital platform that makes meditation easy for expectant and new moms. Each one ofour guided meditations has been created to support you throughout your pregnancy and motherhoodjourney.

Our mission is to help you give your baby the best start in life. Go to expectful.com and sign up for ourfree 30-day meditation trial.

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