Just like that, the festive season is upon us. And as much as you are looking forward to the downtime, the lead-up can be quite the stressor.
No doubt you’re putting in more hours, overspending on gifts (to make up for your unavailability) and your diet and exercise regime is taking the backseat. At this point, you’re probably wondering how you’re going to make it through to Christmas morning unscathed, right? Well, we bet your sleep is thinking the same thing.
Falling into “sleep debt” over the holiday season is a common offense we all commit. Stress, exhaustion, year-end parties and late nights can sap the sleep right from under us. Even when we try to hit the sack, our sleep is intertwined in a Grand Central Station of thoughts and stress, making it even harder to fall asleep.
So what can you do to make sure you top up that sleep bank and snooze well this festive season? Prioritize sleep… and follow these tips.
Tips to sleep well this festive season
As an underslept society that is constantly pushing sleep into the background, the festive season break is the perfect time to catch up on those z’s. But, waiting until the downtime strikes are not the best idea. With this festive season sleep survival kit, you can get your best forty winks, even amongst the chaos that the festive season brings.
Become a tea drinker.
We know it’s all go-go-go during the day, but as soon as you down your tools, you should be winding yourself down and preparing for rest. By drinking tea you can help calm your mental state and ultimately help you relax and settle down for the night. Another perk of drinking tea before bed? It can take away nighttime distractions (hello, mobile phones) that could cause anxiety or a restless mind.
Prioritize your workload.
Planning on leaving your important tasks to the last minute? We veto that idea. Procrastination has a way of making things creep up on you faster than you can say “jingle bell rock”. To avoid the unwanted stress of a daunting to-do list (that ultimately will plague your sleep) make sure you’re tackling your most important tasks, gradually.
Use the “no capacity” card.
While being a “yes man” can earn you brownie points, the burnout at the end of the day is not worth the title. If you really have to take on extra work, make sure that these tasks either get put into the priority box or delegated. Stress leads to sleep deprivation, and we’re pretty sure you want to enjoy the holiday spirit, merrily.
Start a sleep schedule
Just as you’re prioritizing your workload, so should you be prioritizing your sleep. Get into the habit of keeping a consistent sleep-wake schedule and honor it (even if your social calendar is full). Making a frequent habit of late nights can lead to mood and behavior changes, affect your quality of sleep and bring on insomnia. Leave the late nights for NYE when you’ve really got something to celebrate. (Laters, 2020.)
Get in those reps
Sticking to any exercise regime over the festive season can really help promote good, quality sleep. Don’t let your exercise habits dissipate until they become New Year’s resolutions. Even a quick 30-minute workout can go a long way towards helping you keep your head clear of all your holiday stress, and ultimately get you some solid z’s.
Ditch the devices.
While catching up on the sports highlights or having one last Call of Duty match with your online bros may feel like a perfect way to power down, it can really hurt your sleep. Using any electronic devices that emit a light similar to that of daylight tricks our brains into staying awake and tells our sleep hormone (melatonin) to stop producing its sleep medicine.
Ban the booze.
We know there are benefits to drinking red wine, but if you want to get good sleep, avoid boarding the merry train until NYE. Even though alcohol can have a sleep-inducing effect, it actually disrupts your sleep and diminishes the quality of your rest later in the night. Alcohol creates an imbalance between your slow-wave sleep and REM sleep, meaning that it slowly decreases your overall sleep quality. This results in shorter sleep durations with more disruptions.
Get outside.
But, baby it’s cold outside. Even so, fresh air (and natural light) does wonders for your sleep quality. It helps align your circadian rhythm, tuning your body clock into an optimal sleep cycle machine. Keeping it topped up, is a recipe for sleep success.
All I want for Christmas is… some good quality sleep. With these tips, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be getting in the z’s this festive season.
