Looking forward to a well-needed rest this holiday season? You’ll want to make sure you get plenty of rest after a stressful year.
Hästens, the leading ultra-luxury leading Swedish brand recognised for making the best handcrafted beds in the world, believes that sleep is the foundation for our entire wellbeing – a sometimes overlooked luxury.
Below are 8 steps to achieve better sleep this holiday season by the world-renowned sleep specialist and Hästens spokesperson Dr Michael Breus.
- Wean the Holiday Bean. While there are some great holiday coffees to try, drink higher caffeinated beverages in the morning and move to less caffeinated ones in the afternoon. Try to start drinking only by 2 or 3 pm. Many of my patients tell me “ I can drink an espresso and go to bed” and they may be correct, but the sleep they are getting is more jittery than they are!
- The Double Whammy. If you are going out with friends and to a holiday party try to get to bed on time! Most people stay out late and wonder why they feel horrible in the morning!
- Cardio not Cappuccino. Exercise (specifically 20-30 minutes per day) is one of the single best ways to improve the quality of your sleep. Research shows that those who have a regular exercise program get deeper sleep.
- Rudolph’s Bright Nose. Light is the single biggest factor in telling your body that it is morning. In the evenings use a book light for reading, change the bulb wattage to 45 at the bedside table, and use a night light in the bathroom to get you there and back to sleep. Remember to turn off your Christmas tree lights at night too!
- Bothersome bed partners. Kids, pets and snoring bedmates can all disrupt sleep. If you have any or all of the above create a new set of rules: Silence is golden. Consider earplugs (Noise Level Rated at 32 or below so you can still hear the fire alarm) or a sound machine. Both can be a great gift.
- Pillow Talk. Your pillow should be replaced every year. Choose a pillow based on what side you sleep on if you have back pain, and your allergies.
- Staying up late for those holiday specials. Many of my patients sheepishly tell me that they sleep with the TV on, watching all the great holiday specials from their childhood! While I too love Frosty, be sure to put on a TV timer so it does not keep anyone up the rest of the night.
- Time Zone Terror. When travelling across time zones your sleep may be affected. Give your body a full day for each time zone to recover. If you have guests coming from another time zone, their sleep schedule may affect yours!
For a more personalized sleep consultation, Dubai residents can head to Hastens’ flagship store in Dubai where a dedicated sleep expert will share more about the factors that affect the quality of their sleep and the steps they can take to improve this to achieve a better quality of life.
