How to Sleep Better During the Holidays

The holiday season is usually associated with joy and family, but there is also a level of stress that comes along with it. You need to buy the perfect presents, get the right outfit for that big family dinner, prepare delicious meals and desserts as the host or guest, and so much more. With all this happening, the most important thing for you to do is to know how to sleep better. Stress, not having enough time to get through your to-do list, and staying in someone else’s home can make it difficult to sleep comfortably through the night.

Why You Need to Sleep Better

After a good night’s sleep, you feel refreshed and energized. But what happens if you don’t get those 8-9 hours of rest? If it’s just one night, you’ll likely be a bit tired the next day and that’s all. However, if it happens often or a few nights in a row, there are serious risks to consider. According to the NHS, you’ll find it more difficult to concentrate and make decisions, which can lead to injuries and accidents at home, work, or on the road. There are also health risks, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and increased weight. Lack of sleep is also known to increase depression and anxiety, and disrupt the immune system which makes you more likely to get sick.

Why Holiday Sleep Is Tough to Achieve

You already know it’s important to sleep better, but it’s easier said than done during the holidays. There are several factors that make a good night’s sleep more challenging in the holiday season:

1. Stress: There’s a lot of stress around the holidays, from getting the perfect gift to preparing for dinner with family and friends. Stress can often keep you awake at night and moving around restlessly trying to fall asleep.
2. Different mattress: The holidays often involve visiting family and friends, and sleeping over. You’re used to your mattress in your bed, which you’ve carefully selected to ensure maximum comfort. A different mattress can lead to difficulty sleeping and aches all over in the morning.
3. Alcohol, sugar, food: There is no doubt that we eat more during the holiday season. More alcoholic beverages, more delicious sweets, and more decadent dishes. What you eat directly affects how you sleep. Alcohol, for example, can make you sleepy in the short-term but negatively affect your sleep through the night.

There are challenges, but they can be overcome. Don’t just give up on your holiday sleep! Understanding the challenges will help you prepare for them and ensure you get the rest your body needs.

How to Get Better Sleep

Here are a few sleeping tips to help you stay well-rested through the holidays:

Meditate

Meditation helps calm the nerves, reduce stress, and sleep better and deeper through the night. In fact, most doctors recommend it! Start by taking five minutes every day to sit in a quiet place, relax, and focus on nothing else but your breathing. Once you get the hang of it, increase it to ten minutes, and then fifteen minutes. You can do it in the morning to start your day more relaxed, or before you go to sleep to help your body and mind de-stress.

Delegate and Get Help

If you’ve got a long to-do list that’s stressing you out, find ways to get help or delegate. Ask friends and relatives to come over and help you with your shopping, cooking, and cleaning or hire help if possible. Doing everything yourself can be very stressful, which will affect your precious sleep.

Get the Right Mattress

If you’re not sleeping away from home, make sure you have a mattress that supports your needs. Memory foam mattresses are great for improving sleep quality and are available from great and reliable brands, such as DreamCloud and Nectar. If you live in warm climates or find it difficult to sleep because you're always too hot, Nectar has mattresses with cooling gel memory foam. Eco-friendly mattresses are also available by Saatva brands. Think about your specific needs, including any back pain or health issues, before choosing a mattress. Invest the time to really compare and research your options, but don’t delay it. A good mattress can change your life for the better, both in terms of physical and mental health.

Take Care of Your Sleeping Space

Your mattress and bed are important, but so is the bedroom. Make sure it’s clutter-free, clean, and organized. You want a calm and relaxing environment to sleep in. If you’ve got a very small room with limited space, this can be challenging, but decluttering and increasing storage options can help. Add things that relax you, like art, candles, and colors that you like looking at.

Watch What You Eat

Certain foods like sugar, alcohol, and caffeine can have a negative effect on your sleeping habits. Avoid eating these foods as well as heavy meals 2-3 hours before going to sleep so it doesn’t keep you awake. There are also things you can eat and drink to help you fall asleep, such as almonds and chamomile tea. Healthline shares a great list of 9 foods to eat before going to bed.

Listen to Music

Many people swear by white noise or music when going to sleep, and it is definitely worth trying! Try white noise, nature sounds, or very soothing music to see what works best for you. Make sure to always keep the volume very low. It should be just a bit too low for you to hear it properly before going to bed. You’ll find that once you lie down and relax, you’ll hear it much better as you block out other noise and, of course, sleep better.

Exercise

Being active is healthy for you, not only because it burns fat and strengthens your heart. It also helps you sleep better. Don’t exercise before bed, since that may energize you. The ideal time is in the morning so that you can benefit from the added energy throughout the day. When it comes time to sleep, you’ll be more relaxed and your muscles won’t be as tense. Exercise also helps with depression and anxiety, so your mind will also be more relaxed with regular exercise. The result – much better holiday sleep.

Try to Get a Little Sun

This is more challenging during the holiday season as the days get shorter and the skies get cloudier, but it’s important nonetheless. Try to spend a little bit of time outdoors every day. Go for a walk, build a snowman, or just have a cup of tea on your porch in the morning. Exposure to natural light helps your circadian rhythm, which reacts to natural cycles of daylight to regulate your internal clock. When your circadian rhythm is regulated, your body will know it’s time to sleep as night falls, which will help you fall asleep faster.

Turn of Screens and Lights

Artificial lights from your smartphone, laptop, TV, or even Christmas lights can trick your mind into thinking it’s daylight, which will delay the production of the “sleep hormone” and sabotage your plans for better holiday sleep. It’s tempting to check your phone in bed or stay up late watching TV, but it’s not worth it. Christmas lights should also be turned off, even if they’re outside, as they can often shine through the windows and affect your family’s sleep. Sleep is often seen as something we just do, without having to really invest it in, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The time you take to invest in your health by eating healthy and exercising should include doing what you can to promote a good night’s sleep. The sleeping tips here can help you learn how to sleep better, from taking time to relax to ensuring you’re sleeping on a mattress that is right for you.