The holidays can be an exceptionally fun and happy time\u2014but they can also be completely overwhelming. And with so many holiday events, obligations, and to-do\u2019s to check off of your list, it can be easy to let sleep slip to the bottom of the priority list, which will leave you feeling completely exhausted and depleted come the New Year.<\/p>\n
So the question is, how can you prioritize getting sleep during the holidays\u2014and make sure you\u2019re getting the quantity and quality of rest you need to feel and function your best?<\/p>\n
Why is prioritizing sleep during the holiday season so important?<\/h2>\n
First things first\u2014before we jump into how to prioritize sleep during the holidays, let\u2019s touch on why prioritizing sleep during this hectic time of year is so important to begin with.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the holiday season is often thought of as a joyous time full of celebrations, it is also typically the busiest time of year\u2014and can be very mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing for many [people],\u201d says Vanessa Osorio, Certified Sleep Science Coach at Sleepopolis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And all of that stress can throw you off your regular sleep routine, \u201cleading to even more mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion,\u201d says Osorio.<\/p>\n
It can be a vicious cycle; you feel stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted, so it\u2019s hard to get the sleep you need\u2014and because you don\u2019t get enough sleep, you feel increasingly stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted.<\/p>\n
And the longer this goes on, the more of an impact it\u2019s going to have on your health, happiness, and well-being.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, this lack of sleep will also negatively impact your mood, cognitive performance, and immune system, increasing your risk of getting sick and making it harder for you to enjoy the holiday season all together,\u201d says Osorio.la<\/p>\n
So, if you want to move through the holiday season feeling rested, happy, and present and engaged with your friends and family, making sleep a priority\u2014and ensuring you\u2019re getting enough high-quality Zzz\u2019s every night\u2014is an absolute must.<\/p>\n
But how, exactly, do you do that?<\/p>\n
Stick to a consistent sleep schedule<\/h2>\n
With so many holiday obligations, it can be easy to get thrown off your normal sleep schedule. (For example, you might be staying up late to attend holiday parties or waking up early to wrap gifts before your children wake up.)<\/p>\n
But if you want to continue getting the rest you need to feel your best through the holidays, it\u2019s important to stick to as consistent of a sleep schedule as you can.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe brain needs routine to function well, and this rule is especially important when it comes to sleep,\u201d says Dr. Po-Chang Hsu, Medical Expert at SleepingOcean.com. \u201cGoing to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day will help the brain stick to consistent circadian rhythms. This typically results in improved sleep quality and better rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aim to get to bed at the same time every night\u2014and to wake up at the same time each day. If you get off for a night (for example, you stay up late for a holiday get-together and sleep in the next day), try to get right back on schedule. When you\u2019re consistent with your sleep schedule, it typically results in getting more consistently good sleep\u2014which then leads to feeling consistently better throughout the day.<\/p>\n
Plan ahead to minimize holiday stressors and to-do\u2019s<\/h2>\n
As mentioned, there\u2019s a lot to get done during the holidays. And if you wait until the last minute to get everything, you may be tempted to sacrifice sleep in order to knock through everything on your holiday to-do list.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why, if you want to prioritize sleep during the holidays, it\u2019s important to have a plan for how you\u2019re going to get everything done\u2014and make sure to give yourself plenty of time to work through that plan.<\/p>\n
For example, \u201cit\u2019s better to prepare the decorations and the shopping list in advance to decrease the load of the tasks when the season starts,\u201d says Hsu. \u201cIf possible, people might also do their holiday shopping beforehand.\u201d<\/p>\n
The more organized you are with your holiday to-do\u2019s (and the more time you give yourself to complete them), the less likely it is you\u2019re going to be scrambling to get everything done as the holidays approach\u2014and the less likely your sleep is to suffer as a result.<\/p>\n
Say \u201cno\u201d when you (and your body!) need to<\/h2>\n
Sometimes, if you want to say \u201cyes\u201d to getting the sleep you need during the holidays, you\u2019re going to have to say \u201cno\u201d to something else.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs tempting as it is to say \u2018yes\u2019 to every party or festivity that you\u2019re invited to [during the holiday season, it\u2019s important to listen to your body and take the time to rest when you need to,\u201d says Osorio.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re struggling to say \u201cno\u201d or set boundaries around how you\u2019re spending your time during the holidays\u2014whether that\u2019s bouncing from one holiday event to another or working through a seemingly endless list of holiday to-do\u2019s\u2014it can be helpful to focus on what you have to lose if you sacrifice sleep for your holiday obligations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would encourage people to think about all the negative consequences sleep deprivation may have every time they want to sacrifice rest to finish some holiday task,\u201d says Hsu. \u201cThis can help them delegate some things or, for instance, ditch some to-do\u2019s that aren\u2019t that important.\u201d<\/p>\n
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\tDeanna deBara\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n
\t\t\t\t![\"ddebara\"](\"https:\/\/blog.fitbit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Deanna-deBara.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\tDeanna deBara is a freelance writer based in Portland, OR. She covers a wide range of wellness topics, including fitness, nutrition, relationships, and mental health. Her work has appeared on Greatist, Men’s Health, Ravishly, The Fix, What’s Good by The Vitamin Shoppe, and more.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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