Between holiday shopping, get-togethers with family and friends, and attending Christmas events, the Holiday Season can disrupt our beauty sleep, ladies. And as I “grow” older, that slightest change in my routine can cripple the ability to have a proper good night’s sleep. I know this is partly due to hormonal changes that happen during midlife and menopause but it seems to get worse around this time of the year. Plus, being an entrepreneur makes it that much harder to stop thinking about work in the midst of this social season. Layer on top of all this, the high probability of getting sick in winter can throw off the chances of having a restful night.
As women enter the midlife stage, the lack of sleep can trigger health issues like irritability, fatigue, weight gain, and anxiety, among other problems. We surely don’t want to be in a crappy mood during the festive time or end up starting off the new year burned out. So what can we do to get better sleep in the midst of the Holidays? Here are five tips to help you unwind and get as much sleep in the next few weeks.
Stick to your normal routine
Yah right! As if this was easy to do during the Holidays. It’s totally ok and understandable but there are ways to minimize the routine disruption. Things like waking up at the same time every day, eating your breakfast, and going to the gym are some examples. Just because it’s the Holiday season, it doesn’t mean we change the primary daily functions. Events and shopping should be allocated outside our daily routines. Now you may take a day off here and there to do Christmas shopping and that’s great. In fact, you should be organizing set times and dates to sort out Christmas errands. Being organized helps reduce stress and consequently achieve better sleep regardless of the season.
Pace yourself with events
As for Christmas events, unless you’re the host, you are in full control as to when you want to “call it a night”. If the event is during a week-day, then you can excuse yourself because you’re working, right? If it’s on a weekend, then set a time you want to leave the event and stick to it. My hubby and I always agree on the time before we even leave the house. There’s no sense in killing oneself trying to stay up late. The days of partying late are long gone and let’s face it, who wants to be out late in winter? The Holiday season should also be a time to get some sleep and relaxation.
Exercise or Meditate
I don’t understand why some people give up exercising during the Holiday season. It’s more important to stick to the workout routine at Christmas time to help manage weight, reduce stress and get better sleep. Working out should always be a lifestyle priority and part of your daily routine as I touched upon in the first tip.
If you’re not into working out, then try to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the Holidays by meditating. Meditation comes in different forms, but my favorite forms during Christmas are mindfulness and Metta, which is a practice of directing well-wishes toward others. These two forms help us reflect on our deeds and achievements during the year and bring a sense of peace and hope.
Minimize alcohol and caffeine
I recently wrote a blog about my decision to quit drinking alcohol and I still feel great about taking this step. In fact, I don’t crave drinking even at social events. But my point is, alcohol and caffeine can affect the quality of sleep. Therefore, it’s best to keep track of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. If that’s not an incentive to help you take charge of how much to drink, think about the amount of sugar you could save yourself from. At least, getting back on track won’t be as difficult in the new year (smile).
Don’t eat late!
Another thing we tend to overdo during the Holiday season is eating, particularly late at night. The problem is that eating late affects the quality of sleep, according to science. All these parties and gatherings with friends tend to put us in a state of bliss, and as a result, we eat more than usual and snack on finger food! In order to avoid eating too much at parties, try to have a big meal before heading out. Another thing, when you are at a party, look for the veggie platter and make friends with it, without the dip. Vegetables are filling, let alone, low in carbs and calories. And, don’t forget that if you set your time to leave early, you could save yourself the extra calories, and get better sleep after.
Summary
The Christmas Holiday season is a joyous time to spend with loved ones but not at the expense of getting a good night’s sleep. Remember, it’s important to take care of yourself, take a break and focus on your overall wellbeing. I wish you a wonderful Holiday season and a better sleep throughout the year.
