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Key Points
- The article discusses five common issues that can disrupt sleep during the holidays, including vacation, jet lag, red-eye flights, stress, and excitement.
- For vacation-related sleep issues, the article suggests bringing familiar items like your favorite pillow and blanket, avoiding overeating and excessive alcohol, and using sleep aids like masks, ear plugs, and sound machines.
- To combat jet lag, it recommends adjusting your sleep schedule before your trip, choosing flights that arrive in the evening, and limiting naps. For sleep issues on red-eye flights, it suggests planning ahead to stay refreshed, keeping your seat upright, staying hydrated, and using cold napkins to prevent eye puffiness.
- To manage stress-induced sleep problems, the article advises understanding the causes of your stress, sharing your frustrations with others, exercising, eating properly, and delegating tasks. If stress continues to disrupt your sleep, it suggests consulting a physician.
- For sleep disruptions caused by holiday excitement, the article suggests taking a warm bath, drinking warm milk, regulating your body temperature, and distracting yourself with calming activities like reading or listening to soft music.
There are several issues over the holidays that can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep. Lack of sleep will make you a Scrooge. Luckily, you can learn how to combat five types of holiday sleeping problems, and get back to the fun.
Related: Hey Sleepyhead, How Many Hours of Sleep Do You Really Need?
Vacation
While it may seem strange, being on vacation may actually leave you feeling less rested. Sleeping away from home, in a new environment, can cause sleep issues while your body adjusts. To help combat the problem, bring your favorite pillow and blanket to make your bed more comfortable. Use a sleep mask and ear plugs to block out light and noise distractions. Play calming music or use a sound machine to help relax you to sleep.
Don't overeat, as it can cause your body to use energy to continue digesting when you should be sleeping. Lastly, avoid too much alcohol. Although it may put you to sleep, you'll wake up once it wears off.
Related: Holiday Travels: How to Stay Safe on the Road
Jet Lag
Jet lag can also interrupt sleep. Jet lag occurs when you cross into a different time zone, and your body needs to adjust. To fight jet lag, give yourself a chance to catch up with your current time zone. Prepare yourself for the difference by going to bed and getting up earlier than usual a few days prior to your trip. Pick a flight that will arrive early in the evening, and stay up until 10 pm local time. If you must nap, make it a quick one in the early afternoon.
Red-Eye Flights
It's often difficult to sleep on a plane. From crying babies to uncomfortable seating, a red-eye flight may have you up all night. If you must travel in the middle of the night and you know you won't sleep, plan ahead to stay refreshed. Exfoliate your skin and moisturize it to keep it refreshed. Keep your seat upright as much as possible to let your blood circulate throughout your body. Stay hydrated, and munch on healthy snacks. Hold cold napkins up to your eyes to prevent puffiness. By keeping your body refreshed, your mind will stay fresh, too.
Stress
Let's face it: the holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year. This build-up of stress can cause your sleep pattern to become very chaotic. To help beat your stress and get more sleep, be aware of the causes. Talk about frustrations with family and friends. Get plenty of exercise and eat properly. Most importantly, don't take on everything yourself -- divvy up the chores among your family.
If you are having trouble dealing with your stress and its physical symptoms, consulting a physician at an urgent care facility can help.
Related: 6 Tips for Running in the Winter
Excitement
One of the most overlooked causes of sleep problems during the holidays is the overload of excitement. The holidays are stressful, but they're also fun and exciting. Kids aren't the only ones who can't sleep when they're excited. If the anticipation of the holidays is keeping you awake, try a warm bath, drink some warm milk, regulate your body temperature, and distract yourself with soft music or a good book.
Don't let these five
sleeping disruptions turn you into a Grinch this holiday season. Enjoy
your holidays. With these tricks for holiday sleep disruptions, you'll
have visions of sugar plums in no time at all.
Frequently asked questions
What are some common issues that can disrupt sleep during the holidays?
Some common issues that can disrupt sleep during the holidays include being on vacation, jet lag, red-eye flights, stress, and excitement.How can being on vacation disrupt sleep?
Being on vacation can disrupt sleep because sleeping in a new environment can cause issues while your body adjusts. Overeating and consuming too much alcohol can also lead to sleep disruptions.What are some solutions to sleep disruptions while on vacation?
Some solutions include bringing your favorite pillow and blanket to make your bed more comfortable, using a sleep mask and ear plugs to block out light and noise distractions, and playing calming music or using a sound machine to help relax you to sleep.How can jet lag disrupt sleep?
Jet lag disrupts sleep because it occurs when you cross into a different time zone, and your body needs time to adjust to the new schedule.What are some ways to fight jet lag?
To fight jet lag, you can give yourself a chance to catch up with your current time zone by going to bed and getting up earlier than usual a few days prior to your trip. You can also pick a flight that will arrive early in the evening and stay up until 10 pm local time. If you must nap, make it a quick one in the early afternoon.How can stress disrupt sleep during the holidays?
Stress can disrupt sleep during the holidays because the build-up of stress can cause your sleep pattern to become very chaotic.What are some ways to manage stress during the holidays to ensure better sleep?
To manage stress and get more sleep, be aware of the causes of stress. Talk about frustrations with family and friends. Get plenty of exercise and eat properly. Most importantly, don't take on everything yourself -- divvy up the chores among your family.How can excitement disrupt sleep during the holidays?
The overload of excitement during the holidays can disrupt sleep because the anticipation of the holidays can keep you awake.
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