How to avoid holiday sleepiness

The holiday season is fast approaching and with social restrictions still in play, we’re sure that sleeping in is on the horizon for most of us. As tempting as this sounds, staying on track with a consistent sleep routine will have you feeling healthier and happier! On that note, here are some tips to avoid the tempting holiday sleepiness.

Stay out of the bedroom

Your bedroom is meant to be your relaxing haven, and mainly that. Working from home? Use another space in the house, or if space is limited to your bedroom, create a partition for work and sleep. So when it’s time to head to bed, it’ll be easier to relax and wind down for the day. 

Keep hydrated

Fatigue and sleepiness is sometimes a sign of dehydration. There are multiple consequences if you are not drinking enough water throughout the day. Some effects include decreased cognitive functioning, lower energy levels, and less alertness. According to the U.S National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, adult men should aim to consume 15.5 fluids a day and 11.5 cups for women.

Write your routine down

Tracking your sleep and wake routine is a great way to stay on top of your holiday sleepiness. Write down when you wake up, when you fall asleep, when you're napping, etc. Even if you have a smartwatch that tracks all of this, having a physical copy to revert offers a more noticeable alert. 

Be aware of sleep foods

Of course, we’re bound to feast during this time of year, and that’s totally okay. Something to watch out for are foods that have sleep-inducing properties like melatonin and tryptophan (ahem, we’re looking at you turkey!). Lucky for you we wrote about these foods over on our sister-company, BellyCrush! Check it out here: https://bellycrush.com/blogs/news/5-foods-that-make-you-sleepy

Wake up with nature

As the weather gets colder and COVID-19 restrictions get stricter, we’re more tempted to stay inside and keep the blinds shut for most of the day. This will be even more sleep-inducing. To avoid this, leave your blinds open before you go to sleep and wake up with the sunrise. 

This holiday season, sleep well and feel refreshed during the day with these simple tips for avoiding holiday sleepiness. 

References

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-avoid-sleepiness-while-studying#hydrate
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/avoid-drowsiness-after-holiday-feasts
4. https://www.sleep.org/avoiding-sleep-disruption-holidays/