Alaska Sleep Education Center

Helpful Tips to Keep Your Spirits Up During the Holiday Season

Posted by Linda Gimmeson on Dec 21, 2020 11:52:44 AM

While the holidays are a perfect time to slow down and enjoy the company of family and friends, it can also be exhausting for some. Between family obligations, endless shopping, and all types of last-minute tasks, the holidays can be more stressful than fun for many. While this is true, there are some tips you can use to help keep up your energy and spirits. Keep reading to learn what these tips are.

Topics: holidays, holiday stress

How To Sleep Better During The Holidays

Posted by Madison Hoffman on Nov 30, 2020 5:27:00 AM

Simple tips to get better sleep this holiday season

Not exactly in the mood to spread holiday cheer this year? You’re not alone. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 38% of people said their stress levels increase during the holidays. Throw COVID in the mix, and you can see why many aren’t feeling that jolly this season.

Topics: bipap, holidays, holiday stress, getting beter sleep

Peaceful Nights This Christmas

Posted by Jennifer Hines on Dec 19, 2019 9:34:00 AM

It might be the most wonderful time of the year, but the holidays can also be filled with stress, busy schedules, and not enough sleep. Whether it’s shopping and wrapping, late-night parties, or a pile-up of stress that’s got you feeling fried, these are some key ways to improve your shuteye during the hap-happiest season of all.

1. Prioritize The People You Love.

Having fun with friends and family members can be a great stress reliever, because it boosts levels of the so-called cuddle hormone oxytocin. So go ahead and make time to exchange gifts, reminisce, and catch up on everybody’s lives.

But beware: All friends and family members aren’t created equal, and for some people, family obligations can be one of the biggest sources of family stress. If that’s true for you, try to avoid or minimize negative interactions, whether that means avoiding that uncle who always fights with you over politics or staying at a hotel (rather than crashing at your parents' or sibling's place) in order to give yourself an escape from drama.

2. Don’t Procrastinate.

Shopping, cooking, cleaning, and all of the prep work that goes into holiday celebrations takes time and energy. Put it off until the last second, and it can take a big toll on your stress level—and your sleep. So make a list, check it twice, and start chipping away at your to-dos now instead of waiting. Besides, you’ll avoid the most frenzied crowds and traffic and you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor that much more if you aren’t exhausted when the big day arrives.

3. Say No Sometimes.

Bake sales, gift exchanges, dinner parties—any one seasonal activity can be fun on its own. But agree to too many and you can wind up feeling super tense. Be realistic about how much time and energy you have, and just say no before you end up pulling an all-nighter baking or wrapping presents.

4. Have a Good Laugh.

When it all feels like too much to handle, skip the glass of wine and grab a good comedy flick instead. While alcohol may seem like it helps you relax, it can actually disrupt your sleep during the night, making your zzz’s less restorative. Laughing out loud, on the other hand, can actually slash your levels of stress hormone, helping you to unwind before bed.

5. Give Yourself a Curfew.

No one wants to feel like a party-pooper. But the truth is that too much late-night fun can— and will—wreak havoc on your sleep schedule. Your car might not turn into a pumpkin, Cinderella-style, but you’ll either pay the price in bleary eyes the next day or, if you catch up by sleeping in, you’ll run the risk of tossing and turning the following night. So decide in advance what time you’ll depart each holiday gathering, and then stick to your guns when the clock strikes—no FOMO allowed.

6. Take an Afternoon Nap.

Do late nights still have you feeling exhausted? There’s no replacement for a regular sleep/wake schedule, but a nap can help you bridge the gap when it doesn’t happen. Schedule it in the afternoon to take advantage of your body’s natural sleep rhythms. Twenty to 30 minutes is all you need for a quick pick-me-up, but a 90-minute nap can be even more restorative if you have the time.

Don't put off improving your sleep and your life any longer. Call Alaska Sleep Clinic Monday through Friday 9am-5pm to speak with one of our board-certified sleep specialists.

Topics: stress, holidays, getting better sleep, managing stress

Enjoy the 2019 Holidays with These Steps to LESS STRESS.

Posted by Stefanie Leiter on Nov 27, 2019 6:23:00 AM

Holidays are that special time of year where you get to eat loads of delicious foods, enjoy spending time with your relatives, pretend you enjoy spending time with those relatives, go Christmas caroling, watch your children dress up like turkeys and pilgrims at their school plays, hang Christmas lights, make gingerbread houses, clean your home, do this, do that, do those other things, go to office parties, do more, bake a pie, do something else, go gift shopping, do more, more, more....AHHHHHH!!

Topics: stress, holidays, healthy sleep

Why You Should Buy CPAP Equipment Before the End of 2020

Posted by Jennifer Hines on Nov 18, 2019 1:31:00 PM

The holidays are closing in and are a busy time of year when we spend our time Christmas shopping, making winter travel plans, enjoying the company of our families and deciding just what to make our New Year's resolutions. And for many of us, our New Year's resolutions often revolve around making our lives healthier and happier. Whether it's making healthier food choices, exercising more often, or quitting bad habits like smoking, many of us choose to start the next year off aiming at self improvement.

Topics: CPAP success, holidays

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