Without a doubt, everyone’s starting to get excited as the holiday season is approaching. It’s a period of celebration and the perfect time to spend with loved ones or to relax before the new year! But overindulging yourself, stress and a simple change in pace are common during this time, causing sleep deprivation.
Here are some tips that may help you get some quality rest if you’re finding it hard to sleep during the holiday period:
Keep away from the bed, technology blues!
If you’re lucky enough to be gifted devices like a laptop or smartphone, limit the amount of time you use it in bed.
Your brain gets exposed to blue light when you use your phone, laptop or other devices in bed. In fact, a study found that blue light makes you less sleepy. This means it’ll take you longer to fall asleep!
A good way to reduce the amount of blue light is limiting screen time when you’re in bed. This will help your brain link your bed to sleep rather than screen time.
If using a device at night is unavoidable, try setting your phone on night mode. This makes your device emit a warmer light, making it easier on your eyes.
We love our festive drinks, but does our body?
It’s common to have a drink or two during the holiday season. It’s especially common if you’re going to lots of gatherings and end of year parties. Too many drinks and sometimes you fall asleep instead.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, even though drinking alcohol can make you fall asleep quicker, drinking at night can in fact cause you to get a lesser quality amount of sleep. |
Alcohol affects your circadian rhythm (your body clock), causing you to wake up more during the night. Drinking alcohol also decreases your REM sleep (the most restorative sleep stage). This can cause grogginess in the morning.
Coffee is fun and games until later during the day
The holiday season can be pretty tiring if you see all your family and friends, or your kids are pretty energetic from opening presents. Maybe you think a well-deserved cup of coffee is what you need.
Though you may be awake for the next few hours, according to the Sleep Health Foundation, you may still feel the effect of caffeine 3-7 hours after.
This can cause your sleep to be of lesser quality or make it even harder for you to fall asleep.
Don’t stress – it’s the holidays!
Stress makes you overthink in bed. This means your various thoughts keep you up until the middle of the night.
A lack of sleep causes your body to produce stress hormones, making it even harder to fall into deep sleep. It’s a never ending cycle, so don’t stress about forgetting to buy presents or what to cook during the holiday season.
To avoid stressing about everything that can go wrong, it’s a good idea to plan what you need to do during the holidays. This gives you the number of errands per day and stops you from cramming them until the end. Plans can also add a sense of accomplishment when you cross off your checklist just before the festivities start.
Remember to take some time winding down. You could either read a book or take time away from technology before sleeping!
Last but not least: a comfortable mattress and pillow is key
A good sleeping posture comes from having a supportive mattress and pillow. You’ll wake up the next day feeling refreshed and free from aches or pains.
Choosing a mattress with the right firmness and meets your preferences will help you get a good night’s sleep this holiday season. Or the perfect gift for someone special!
We really hope you have a great holiday season and that these tips can help you get through with enough sleep!