Sleeping at Christmas
Sleep is important, but it isn't always a priority. Christmas is a busy period, and often events with family and friends take the lead. However, it is worth keeping sleep somewhere on the radar.
One of the biggest things sleep gives us is emotional resilience. Christmas can be a stressful time, and having this emotional stability, along with the general energy recharge, can really help.
Advice for sleeping during the Christmas Holidays
Try to give yourself enough opportunity for sleep. Many people sleep well, but simply don’t give themselves enough time to do so. Aim for at least three nights in the week where you prioritise giving yourself enough time to sleep.
If you drink alcohol, you may find that you fall asleep faster. But alcohol often leads to disrupted sleep later in the night and can reduce the amount of REM sleep we get, which is important for mood regulation. Having alcohol-free days during the week can really improve sleep and mood.
There are a lot of fantastic things to eat at Christmas. Sometimes eating close to bedtime can lead to heartburn, which can make sleep more difficult. Leaving an hour or so between your last mince pie and bedtime might help.
If you can’t sleep, don’t force it. Often it’s the lying in bed trying to sleep that causes the most frustration. If you’re not feeling sleepy, give yourself a break and find a relaxing, distracting activity to do while you wait for the urge to sleep to return.
Lastly, if you are feeling excessively sleepy, please don’t drive.
As with nearly all sleep advice, we need to remember that we are all individuals and we all sleep differently. What works for one person doesn’t work for everyone, so it’s important to reflect on our own sleep and think about what really makes a difference for us personally. If you want more advice on getting yourself sleeping better, please drop us an email.