The winter season can affect your sleeping cycle. So, should you worry about it?
Written by Marialma Team
Saint Nick’s internal clock may be a little cuckoo. When he is awake, we are sleeping, when we are opening presents and feasting, he is riding a slay on a round trip and trying to make it back to Lapland for dinner. That’s ok for Santa Claus – being fictional and all – he won’t really care about healthy sleep cycles, but you surely should. So, now it’s time to scroll down and find out how Christmas impacts your sleep cycle and how you can avoid it!
Why Sleep Suffers during Santa Season
December means longer days and later bedtimes. We celebrate Christmas during the entire month with our firm and our friends in endless Christmas parties. And let’s not forget that this whole period finishes with the international sleep deprivation fest of New Year’s Eve. On top of that, this month interferes with sleep. But, how?
Well, what is one of the main causes of insomnia? Yes, that’s right: Anxiety. With circadian and psychological regulators under pressure, some people will sleep less. And we all know how Christmas can end up being messy, chaotic, and stressful.
But, don’t go anywhere. There is more! The last two main elements that affect your sleep are, of course, food and alcohol. At this time of the year, people overeat and ingest high levels of alcohol, which leads to early awakenings, hangovers, and insomnia.
All I Want for Christmas is a Good Night’s Sleep
So, Christmas can have a very damaging effect on your sleep cycle. Of course, we can’t speak for everyone, but around the holiday season, these bad habits make December one of the less restful months of the year.
Here are 4 tips on how to maintain our quality level of sleep around Christmas time:
1) Moderate alcohol consumption.
No, we are not trying to bring back the Dry Law or to make your family gatherings unbearable. Alcohol can make you fall asleep faster, but it prevents you from achieving a deep sleep stage when you can fully rest. So, you’re most likely to wake up frequently and easily in the middle of the night, feeling tired, dehydrated and needing to go to the bathroom. Remember to drink water before bedtime.
2) No “save the calories” rule!
Skipping lunch on Christmas Eve or breakfast on Christmas day is never a good idea. The result will be the same: you will overeat as soon as you are sitting at that dinner table facing that chocolate mousse, anyway. The trick is to reduce the portions, so you’ll be eating more lightly at regular intervals.
3) Don’t eat for at least 3/4 hours before going to bed.
We hear you. It’s hard resisting to nibbling on the leftover turkey leg or scrapping the bottom of the dessert plate, as you are passing the dinner’s leftovers. However, remember that it can give you trouble and remember that Christmas impacts your sleep cycle when you are trying to fall asleep later. If possible, try to abstain from eating at least 3 hours before going to bed to avoid indigestion and heartburn!
4) Drink a cup of steaming hot tea before going to bed.
If you are not sleeping well, your instinct might be to compensate with a caffeine drink or plain coffee, but it really isn’t a good idea, as they make falling asleep difficult and prevent you from achieving the deep sleep.
Trying hard not to be a total Grinch about this, but your unhealthy behavior throughout November – December may have a deeper impact and send you on a month-long recovery path. Keep in mind one key factor: it’s all about balance.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas
Let’s not make Christmas just a time of frenzy and stress, where we think of nothing but the gifts we have to give or the events and dinners we have to make or attend. Not just a rush hour to the shops and tables full of food … May these same gifts and tables honor the spirit of friendship, relationship, and gratitude for all the good that life gives us!
Christmas is a good time to rethink fraternity and seek it it year round.
So, we’d like to wish you a merry Christmas. And, don’t forget to catch some Zzz’s.
We hope you have enjoyed our article about how Christmas impacts your sleep cycle. Feel free to pin all the images to your favorite Pinterest board and subscribe to our newsletter, so you can be the first to know about our latest articles. Lastly, don’t forget: sleep well, live well!