5 Tips to Get a Good Night’s Sleep to Reduce Stress Before the Holidays

This article was updated on October 6th, 2020. 

In the past, Americans used to sleep almost 8 hours per night. According to global analytics and advice firm Gallup, in 1942 Americans slept an average of 7.9 hours each night. However, despite the fact that getting a good night of sleep is essential for our physical and mental health, 35% of adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep (7 hours per day) according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Although the insufficient sleep patterns are not an exclusive US problem, evidence gathered by various studies conducted in industrialized countries suggest that the proportion of people sleeping less than the recommended hours is associated with lifestyle factors such as psychosocial stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of physical activity and excessive electronic media use, among others.

Nowadays, the worldwide uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic is only adding more to the issue, and the weeks leading up to the holidays can be even more stressful under this new circumstance. Check these five tips that can help you get a good night’s sleep to reduce stress before the holidays, because amongst the chaos, you deserve some good R&R!

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep to Reduce Stress Before the Holidays?

1. Slow Down on the Sweets

One of the best parts of the holidays is the food – especially the sweets! Who can resist the candy canes, pecan pie, chocolate cake, sugar cookies, toffee, mousses, truffles, cheesecakes, cupcakes, brownies…the list goes on (just naming them gives me a sugar craving). With endless options at every corner, keep in mind that slow and steady always wins the race. Indulging in too many sweets can lead to some not so sweet dreams, with recent studies revealing that increased sugar-intake can negatively affect your sleep quality – resulting in less deep sleep and a higher frequency of sleep arousals. This may explain feeling over-exhausted the next day, even if you think you got enough hours in!

2. Deck the Halls – But remember to turn off the lights!

We know that increased light exposure can disrupt our ability to fall asleep – but we might forget that this applies to all of our decorations too! Light exposure affects our body’s ability to produce melatonin, which promotes sleep. Whether you put LED candles in the windows, have lights shining in from outside, or even decorate your room/ hallway, remembering to turn off the holiday decor lights at least an hour before bedtime might help you fall into REM a little easier.

3. Keep your Bedtime Consistent

Not having enough time in the day to keep up with daily demands, let alone holiday demands, can throw your circadian rhythm for a loop. If you find yourself compromising your normal bedtime in lieu of some extra hours to cram in those last holiday check-offs, chances are your sleep schedule will have a hard time bouncing back. Not only will this have you staying up later the following nights, but keep in mind that a good night’s sleep helps promotes your best-self and may actually help you get more done the next day.

4. Baby, It’s Cold Outside! (But Go Out There Anyway)

We know it’s getting cold out – but getting some fresh air and natural daylight will help better align your circadian rhythm and internal clock. Whether its partaking in sports, getting festive by building a snowman, or just taking a stroll down the block, absorbing more daylight helps regulate melatonin levels – signaling a decrease in levels during the day and an increase in levels at night when it’s time to wind down. Even though the daylight is sparse during the winter months, try to soak up as much sun as possible!

5. Schedule in Some You Time

The holidays seem easier to prepare for when there’s a plan – but don’t forget to plan-in some time for you too! Give yourself an adequate amount of time before bed to unwind and de-stress from the day’s events. Whether it’s with a hot bath, meditation (I recommend downloading the “Headspace” app in the app store) or with a soothing cup of tea and a book, letting your mind and your body relax will help you separate yourself from the clutter and feel more at ease once you go to bed.

If we may add one more thing…there’s something that everyone should keep in mind when trying to get a good night’s sleep to reduce stress. A good mattress will change the way you approach a good and relaxing sleep. And if the mattress is certified organic and non-toxic, this is even better since you can be confident about the materials the mattress is made of. After reviewing several products, our go-to mattress brand is Naturepedic because, since 2003, they have been on a mission to transform people’s lives through safer, healthier sleep by eliminating hazardous chemicals and materials like flame-retardants and polyurethane foam from their line of GOTS-certified organic, non-toxic mattresses. Naturepedic supports an organic holistic lifestyle while protecting the environment.

Learn more about Naturepedic here and get the best mattress choice that fits you and your family’s needs.

Sweet dreams!