HUNTING DOWN the perfect gift, wrangling in-laws, decking the halls, trying to re-create your mother's famous Christmas cookies...and on and on. Your formidable list of holiday tasks would make even Santa look like a slacker. No wonder you're tired. In fact, women are a whopping three times more likely than men to say they don't sleep as well over the holidays, according to a recent survey. The reasons for this disparity include the usual (and notso-usual) suspects, from good oldfashioned stress-44% of women report a spike in their anxiety levels during the "most wonderful time of year"-to increased alcohol consumption, which doubles from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
"There are so many factors preventing us from getting to bed and waking up on a consistent basis during the holiday season, from a packed social calendar to financial stress," confirms sleep doctor Michael Breus, Ph.D., author of Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health. His research reveals we lose an average of 39 minutes of sleep each night this time of year. "If you normally get 6.5 hours, but now you're getting 5.85 hours, that's a big difference," he says. "Once you go below 6 hours, it gets very difficult to make up for the deficit."
It's safe to say sleep is on all our wish lists this season. Keep reading for a few doctor-approved strategies shown to help you dodge three common holiday sleep saboteurs and get the restorative Zzzs you deserve.
Swap wine for tart cherry juice
Denne historien er fra December 16, 2024-utgaven av First for Women.
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Denne historien er fra December 16, 2024-utgaven av First for Women.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FIONA DAVIS' The Stolen Queen
Known for her glamorous historical fiction novels featuring iconic New York City landmarks like The New York Public Library and Radio City Music Hall, Fiona Davis has sold more than a million books and counting!
Deck the Halls on a Dime
Americans spend hundreds of dollars on holiday decorations each year. To the rescue: FIRST polled decorating pros on how to make your home merry and bright for less!
FAITH & LAUGHTER
GIVE ME STRENGTH AS A SANDWICH GENERATION’ CAREGIVER
CHRISTMAS TREES GIVE HOPE TO MILITARY FAMILIES
For many soldiers and their loved ones, the holidays can be difficult, both emotionally and financially. But thanks to the Trees for Troops program, hundreds of their homes and hearts are filled with Christmas cheer every year
MARTHA STEWART'S NEW Cookbook
Step into Martha Stewart's kitchen with a collection of timeless recipes sure to elevate your everyday meals and make holiday celebrations extra special
CONFIDENCE, TRADITIONS & ALL THE Good Things
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, Martha Stewart has been a lifestyle icon.
POWER UP YOUR PROTEIN WITH CREATINE
There are some stories-like How the Grinch Stole Christmas-that we know by heart. Another tale that may be all too familiar to many of us: How we try to slim, only to regain more weight than we lost.
FOUND: HELP FOR HOLIDAY SLEEP LOSS
If you're tossing and turning a lot more this time of year, you're not alone: New research shows Americans lose nearly 40 minutes of sleep each night over the hectic holiday season. To the rescue: Experts share simple tips to transform sleepless nights into sweet, sugarplum dreams, including the strategy that works for 9 in 10 people
5 WAYS TO SICKPROOF YOUR HOLIDAYS
Stay healthy all season with these clever-and easy-strategies
Radiant in Red
3 steps to wearing the bold hue at any age
