We all know the Grinch is so mean because his heart is "two sizes too small" – but, he especially hates Christmas because of the disturbing Christmastime noises, including the singing of Christmas carols.
Frankly, who wouldn’t be annoyed with seasonal sleep deprivation… even if you do get a bunch of gifts out of it? Losing sleep during the holidays is a thing. We’re all behind on Christmas present-shopping, and scrolling through Amazon late at night doesn’t help.
If you're losing sleep during the holidays, too, you're not alone.
A survey of over 1,200 people was conducted to figure out how holiday stress affects sleep. According to the results 26 percent of respondents said they miss out on at least two hours of sleep each night during the holidays, due to things like financial pressure, crowds, and other holiday-related stressors.
You can still get your sleep back on track.
Keep up with your regular workout routine. Try something as simple as a little light yoga right before bed to help prepare your body for snoozing. Even though you may want to, don’t throw your normal workout routine out the window. Your exercise schedule is important to maintain to avoid sleepless nights.
Also, make sure your bedroom is a sleep sanctuary instead of an environment that makes it difficult for you to relax. If you have piles full of gifts that need to be wrapped, place them in closet with the door closed. Keep your room dark and cool, and a white noise machine is never a bad idea to block out ambient sounds that could awaken you throughout the night.
If you've been tossing and turning for what seems like forever, try reading a book or listening to a podcast to help your mind de-stress, and then turn your attention to your physical body. Start at your toes and flex and release each individual muscle group for five seconds. As you finish each group, move further up the body. This forces your mind to both concentrate on the muscle groups as well as counting.
All in all, you know your own body better than anyone, so take some time to touch base with yourself and identify some of the things that make you feel the calmest. Some like puzzles, others like drinking a glass of cold almond milk with a sprinkle of cinnamon to get those eyes to start drooping. You can dream about all the gifts the Grinch will steal this Christmas!