4 Ways to Improve Your Holiday Sleep Schedule
By Brandi Goodman
The holidays are meant to be a joyous time. Though it's still true in many ways, the holiday season can also be a cause of stress for many and interfere with sleep. With a few tips in mind, you can improve your holiday sleep schedule and enjoy your time better.
Maintain Your Sleep Routine
If you've already been following a routine, such as heading to bed each night around 10 p.m. and waking to your alarm at 7 a.m., then stick with it. You don't want to deviate from your plan and try to stay up later getting tasks done. It will throw off your body's rhythm and mess your entire sleep schedule up. It isn't easy to get back on track once you've lost it, so be sure you're sticking with your same routine no matter what you have going on.
Accomplish One Task at a Time
Don't overload yourself trying to accomplish everything you need for the holidays in one weekend. Start well in advance and simply accomplish one task at a time, as you have space for it in your schedule. You can riddle yourself with stress and make it hard to fall asleep staying up worrying about everything you have left to finish if you wait until the last minute.
Schedule Your Worry Time
Rather than waiting until you're in bed and trying to fall asleep to let your mind worry about all you have to do, schedule some worry time. This may sound silly, but it can actually work. At least a few hours before bed, take the time to think about what it is you want to accomplish next. Make a to-do list for the next day or think about some solutions for making sure you achieve your holiday goals. Thinking about it now will help you fall asleep without those worries in your head later.
Turn Off Christmas Lights
Many people realize the lights from their phones and televisions can keep them up. What about Christmas lights? Too few individuals actually think to shut these off, and instead run them all night long. Whether inside the home or out, any additional light you're not used to can seep into your window or under your door and make it difficult for you to drift off. Turn off all Christmas lights before you plan on going to bed so they won't keep you awake.
Don't be a Grinch on little sleep this holiday season. Keep these tips in mind for ways to improve your holiday sleep schedule and enhance your well-being. You'll be glad you did.
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