Christine Lawler

GET YOUR SLEEP! Sleep can solve so many physical and mental health issues and it’s so easy to do if we prioritize it and realize how important it is.

 

Christine Lawler is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, lover of sleep, and baby sleep consultant. She has been practicing therapy for 9 years, first in Texas and now in Las Vegas, Nevada. After practicing for almost a decade, Chrissy slowly started to realize that sleep issues were a common thread among all of her clients. So she got some additional training in advanced sleep medicine and learned that many of the mental health challenges that both adults and children face today stem from inadequate sleep. Getting good sleep, she discovered, would give her clients a simple an effective tool to start solving other major issues in their lives. She also saw that when parents get good sleep, they are more equipped to take care of their kids. Chrissy then founded The Peaceful Sleeper in 2018 for two main reasons: One, she recognizes how critically important sleep is in all aspects of life, and two, she believes that many parents are under-informed or feel unnecessary guilt when it comes to sleep training and sleep coaching their baby. Chrissy’s goal as a baby sleep consultant is to take the stress and guesswork out of sleep training and get everyone in the family a good night’s rest. She’s here to help parents enjoy parenthood–not just endure it.

Where did the idea for The Peaceful Sleeper come from?

The Idea for The Peaceful Sleeper came from my own experience as a mother, and also from my clients in therapy. I functioned so much better in life when I got the sleep that I needed, and part of that started with getting my kids on a consistent and restorative sleep schedule. I did the research (and a lot of trial and error) and found a lot of universal truths about getting babies to sleep well. I wanted to share what I found with other moms so that they, and their babies, get the sleep that they need.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day for me (a day that I’m not taking clients) is pretty chaotic. It starts with getting my two oldest ready and out the door for school. Then my assistant comes and we talk about this weeks goals and she gets to work on her list and I tackle mine. I spend a lot of time on Instagram interacting with followers and answering questions on my story. Then my kids come home, I put on my mom hat and spend quality time together. When they’re asleep I usually go through what I accomplished in the day and make a new list for the next day. I stay productive by making a master list at the beginning of the week of the goals I want to get done this week and how they will help with the “bigger picture”. Planning ahead and keeping my calendar up to date is so crucial for my everyday chaos.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Before, I’d usually have ideas and then I’ll jump into doing them, but lately I’ve been trying to slow down and be more deliberate. If an idea pops in my head, I usually think about it, talk to others about it, and come up with a solid plan of action for it.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Mom’s being more open and honest about their motherhood journey and mental health struggles. There seems to be a push in social media of authenticity which is both refreshing and awesome to see as a therapist.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Always thinking about the bigger picture. I started The Peaceful Sleeper because I wanted mother to get the sleep and help that they need, and I knew that starting with getting their babies good night’s sleep will help them in that journey. I always keep that in mind when planning the next steps of my business. If there isn’t an inherent reason for your business it’s hard to stay focused.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be Patient! Slow down and embrace and accept yourself. Enjoy the journey instead of always pushing for what the next stage is.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

GET YOUR SLEEP! People may agree with me on this, but a lot of people put it so low on their priority list that they don’t take it seriously. Sleep can solve so many physical and mental health issues and it’s so easy to do if we prioritize it and realize how important it is.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Making lists! It might be my scattered brain but planning every week of what needs to get done and what will help lead to more growth for my company is so helpful. It Also gives me perspective of what’s important and needs to get done and what isn’t.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I am constantly on Instagram trying to connect with other moms, influencers, and companies that I could collaborate with. Being active on social media and interacting with my followers is so important to me and my business.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Organization. Although I had a clear goal in my mind of what I wanted this company to be, my organization to get to that goal was awful. I have now learned to prioritize and make clear, concise steps for my business and it has helped in my growth so much.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I love trying different products for my kids, but there doesn’t seem to be a box subscription program to do that. Things like sippy cups, swaddles, toys, etc that we can try.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently purchased a light ring and microphone that attaches to my phone. I do a lot of informational videos for my online community and getting them high quality videos are very helpful. Even though the information may be the same, that added quality of the video lets my customers know that I am a professional and know what I’m talking about.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Trello. It’s where I put all my lists for myself and my assistant. I can make lists, make check lists, put time constraints of when it should be done. It’s super helpful for me.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

“Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living” by Shauna Niequist. It shows you how to slow down and to accept yourself for the way you are. Being more authentic and real with my community that I’ve built with my business is my ultimate goal, so this book really helped me in making that happen.

What is your favorite quote?

She believed that she could, so she did.

Key Learnings:

• Get good sleep, it will help you immensely.
• Always have a goal for what you want your business to accomplish, it will be your north star through the chaos.
• Learn to appreciate the journey, don’t just think of the next thing.
• Prioritize your time and choose what you spend most of your energy on wisely. It’s OK to delegate, it’s not OK to overwhelm yourself.