Ways to Defy Holiday Stress
Along with the busy preparations in the holiday season comes the stress – and the more stressed you are, the harder it is to sleep.
Here are ways in which you can enjoy the holiday season without having that holiday stress, and still have the rest that you need before the holiday’s over.
Check your Room’s Ambiance
Make your room a sanctuary where you feel calmed as soon as you enter. You can do this through so many ways especially catered to you and what will make you feel most comfortable with. You can opt for having scented candles of your favorite fragrance, get better non-abrasive lighting, use thick curtains so that no light can pass through when you want to sleep in the daytime etc.
The sleep environment that you have in your home will greatly impact the quality of your sleep and how rested you feel. As preparations would make you go out and be at busy and crowded places, you would want to go home to your quiet room and instantly feel all the day’s stress and tension melt away.
Watch what you drink and eat
The quality of your sleep is greatly influenced by your diet. “A healthy diet supports healthy sleep, while healthy sleep supports a healthy appetite and healthy food choices,” said Craells from The Better Sleep Council.
It is suggested that you finish eating 2 to 3 hours before bedtime, so your body is ready to relax. Alcohol consumption must also be reduced as it has an effect on sleep problems. “While drinking alcohol close to bedtime may help you fall asleep, it will end up disrupting the sleep cycle later in the night,” she explained. “The fragmented and fitful sleep that occurs when the alcohol is metabolized will leave you tired and unrefreshed the following day.”
Even drinking just water right at bedtime can cause awakenings, too.
Check your bed
Your vehicle for sleep is the mattress that you lay on your bed so it should be relaxing and comfortable to you. Surely you won’t have a good night’s sleep if your mattress has lumps, bumps, or valleys, so if your bed has at least one of these, you might want to invest in a new one. Also, don’t forget your sheets, have them washed every three days so you feel calmed every time you lay on your bed and feel it warm and fresh.
Go to bed at the same time everyday
During the holidays, it’s easy to forgo sleep in order to get more things done like wrapping presents, and late night shopping. However, getting sufficient sleep on a consistent basis is important to avoid holiday stress and in order for you to have the energy that you need to continue your holiday preparation tomorrow. You’ll feel less stressed and do more efficient work when well-rested, making you extra engaged and productive during the day and not feel drained afterwards.
Practice a pre-bed ritual
You can help your mind and body prepare for sleep when you create a bedtime routine at the end of the day to avoid holiday stress. Meditating or engaging in other relaxation techniques before bed and avoiding screens calms the nervous system making it ready to get rest.
The Better Sleep Council also suggests the following:
* Drinking a cup of relaxing drink like tea made of chamomile, lavender, and valerian steeped in hot water 1 hour before bedtime.
* Playing soft meditation music on a timer or wearing earplugs to block out sounds.
* Lighting sleep scents, such as lavender or sandalwood.
* Changing into 100 percent cotton pajamas for a soft, soothing feel or moisture-wicking pajamas if you get hot while sleeping.
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