It is important, especially around the holidays, to make sure you are getting plenty of sleep. You need to be well rested for all those family parties, snowball fights, and late night present wrapping sessions. Getting enough sleep is always easier said than done, and with the recent time change, your body can be having a hard time adjusting. While the number of hours of sleep you get each night is important, it is only one piece to the puzzle. The quality of the sleep you are getting matters, too. But how?
Well, for starters, be active.
Exercising regularly will not only fend off the weight gain from all of those holiday meals, but it will help with your sleep quality. Gaining weight can actually have a negative effect on your sleep. By working out you are keeping the weight off and also wearing your body down. Working out outdoors allows you to soak up that vitamin D, which helps your sleep, as well.
Make sure your nasal passage isn’t dry.
This might sound weird, but the dry air from your heater inside your home can cause congestion. This is that pesky stuffy nose we are talking about. It can cause you to have irregular breathing patterns or maybe even cause you to snore. You can offset this by staying hydrated during the day and using a humidifier at night. If it gets really bad, consider a Neti Pot to flush your nasal passage clean before bed. A clear nasal passage will result in a great night’s rest.
Don’t fill the tank before bed.
Eating a warm, heavy meal before bed is never a good idea and can take away from your rest. Try lighter dinners, like a bowl of soup, in the colder months, to ensure better sleep.