Yes it’s the most wonderful time of the year but it’s also the busiest too and trying to clear your head at night from all the festive fuzziness can be difficult.
We asked experts at Breathing Relief to give their tops tips to ensuring a perfect nights sleep after a a day filled of tinsel-tastic-tantrums!
Here’s what they said:
Let’s be real, Christmas isn’t fun for everyone. If you’re the one cooking, cleaning, present buying, present wrapping and keeping the kids entertained, then, well it’s no fun at all. A recent survey found that the Christmas season is the 6th most stressful life event, after divorce and moving house. When we’re stressed, our sleep suffers. Trying to be productive when you’re sleep deprived can be difficult at the best of times. Follow our top tips to make sure you don’t lose any sleep this Christmas season.
Make lists:
It sounds simple, but if you know exactly what you have to do, you can prioritise. Staying on top of tasks means there won’t be any last minute dash to the shops or panic moments. It also means you won’t lie awake the night before the big day thinking about what you’ve forgotten. On Christmas day set yourself a schedule and delegate. If you have kids, give them easy to manage chores. It will keep them occupied and reduce your work-load.
Manage your expectations – Nobody expects you to do everything, or please everyone:
Many of us worry our presents won’t be well received, the food won’t be enough, or to everyone’s tastes. If you’re hosting Christmas, you’re already giving family or friends a lovely gesture.
Go easy on yourself:
When you’re making preparations. Less is more. Less stress for you more means more fun for everyone. No one likes a grumpy, frazzled host.
Relax:
During the holiday season, do whatever you need to do to ensure you’re relaxed before you get into bed. Take a bath, read a book, have a hot chocolate. Avoid TV or smartphones too close to bedtime as the blue light electronics emit will keep you awake. Keep your bedroom cool and lightly scented with lavender. It promotes sleepiness and keeps the air fresh. Try using a meditation app to help you drift off. Breathing Relief have the Ultimate Sleep Kit containing all the products you need to relax and catch a good night’s sleep.
If you find you’re not getting enough sleep and are still stressed throughout the day, try napping. A study at NASA on sleepy military pilots and astronauts found that a 40-minute nap improved performance by 34% and alertness 100%. A 20-40 minute nap will help you refocus and continue with your list of tasks later into the afternoon.
Limit your booze:
Christmas, for some, means a cheeky Baileys in your breakfast coffee, or a swift half (or more) in the pub after shopping. Whilst these little indulgences won’t damage your health, alcohol affects your ability to enter the deep sleep phase. Drinking throughout the day, or too close to bedtime will stop you from getting a good night’s sleep. Moderate your alcohol consumption and stay clear from any heavy drinking in the evenings leading up to Christmas day. You’ll wake up feeling rested and ready to tackle the mountain of potatoes that need peeling.
Keep the kids calm:
Inevitably the kids will have been awake since the crack of dawn, begging for presents. Create a Christmas ritual that will ensure they get the sleep they need to allow you to focus on what needs to be done. Bathtime is the perfect way to set up good sleeping practice. Make it fun, but not too active. Warm bubbles, scented with lavender will promote sleepiness and ensure they drift off peacefully. If your kids are of school age, involve them in the preparations, helping to write lists and plan present buying. Wrapping gifts and creating cards together will help them feel a part of the process and also makes for a fun, soothing activity.
Have fun:
Most importantly, remember Christmas is meant to be fun! Make the most of seasonal activities like setting up the tree, attending your local area’s lighting ceremony, ice-skating, visit a German market etc. It will get you into the spirit and make all the hard work more appealing.
Best of luck!
Visit www.breathingrelief.com to view our full list of sleep and health products.
COMPETITION: WIN 1 OF 5 Ultimate Sleep Kits
To enter this competition for your chance to win simply head on over to our FACEBOOK like & share your top tips for a stress free Christmas.
FACEBOOK ONLY COMPETITION: Simply LIKE & share your top tips to a stress free Christmas over on our official page here: UnderTheChristmasTree Facebook
Starts September 3rd and Ends September 10th at midnight. To read our Terms and conditions please click here: Competition terms & conditions
be organised