Snow is falling, hot chocolate is brewing, presents are being wrapped, and you're not getting any sleep—it must be the holiday season!

While the holidays bring a ton of joys, there's no denying that this is the most stressful time of year. Your kids are going to be out of school, you have to keep up with work, and you barely have enough time to decorate or go out and buy gifts. It's no wonder you can't sleep at night!

But losing sleep during the holidays is only going to make things a lot more difficult for you, which is why we're here to share some tips on how to get a better night's sleep this holiday season.

Learn Relaxation Techniques

If you're stressing out over the holidays, you're not alone. 62 percent of people report experiencing higher levels of stress during the holiday season. This stress can be due to financial troubles, not having enough time to get things done, or having to travel to see family.

These higher levels of stress can disrupt your sleep by making it more difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night. 

That's why it's important to learn relaxation techniques to keep your stress levels lower throughout the day, and especially right before bed. 

Some ways to reduce stress during the day include:

• Exercising
• Creating a to-do list
• Practicing yoga
• Meditating
• Doing breathing exercises

Even just spending ten minutes on one of those activities can be a big help.

Right before bed, try doing a guided meditation to help your mind relax and keep your thoughts from making you feel restless all night. You can also drink a nighttime tea that has chamomile to help aid you in falling asleep.

Stick to Your Normal Sleep Schedule 

The holidays can completely throw your normal routine out the window, especially if you don't have to wake up for work or you're going on a family vacation. While it might be tempting to sleep in later, this can actually end up making it more difficult to sleep at night.

Try to stick your sleep schedule as much as possible. If you go to bed late one night after a holiday party, try to get yourself up the next day at a reasonable hour so your sleep schedule isn't in shambles.

Pace Yourself with Holiday Activities 

This holiday season, your list of holiday activities might look something like this:

• Put up decorations
• Buy gifts for family and friends
• Attend holiday parties
• Wrap presents
• Christmas caroling
• Ice skating
• Baking holiday treats
• Traveling to see family
• Cooking a holiday feast

In a short two-week span, this can be a lot on one person's plate, especially if you're working and caring for a house and family. With all of those things to do and so little time, you might find yourself sacrificing sleep to get it all done.

But sleep doesn't have to be a victim of the holiday season! By pacing yourself and spreading these activities out, you can get it all done without being rushed for time. Try to create a schedule in advance so you can have a better idea of when each thing should be completed.

Treat Yourself to a New Mattress

Have you noticed a lack of sleep, even before the holiday season started? It might be due to your mattress being old or uncomfortable. Add the holiday stressors to the mix and it can become downright impossible to sleep on a bad mattress.

Consider treating yourself to a new mattress this year so you can not only get enough sleep over the holidays but beyond the holidays for years to come. Think of it as a holiday gift from you, for you. 

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

One of the best parts of this time of year is all of the parties! You've got work events, family gatherings, and friend's parties to attend in the coming weeks. 

For a lot of people, that means alcohol consumption will be higher than normal. And while this can lead to a wonderful night, it can also cost you a lot of sleep. 

Drinking alcohol often makes it easier to fall asleep, but the problem is it reduces the REM cycle leading to a lower quality of sleep and makes you feel a lot more tired the following day.

To prevent alcohol from affecting your sleep cycle, try to stop drinking a couple of hours before going to bed and limit your alcohol intake to just a couple of drinks. 

Keep Your Bedroom Off-Limits to the Kids

If you have kids that are out of school over the holidays, they might have an excess of energy that can keep you up at night. It's important to set a boundary and make sure your kids know that when you go to sleep, they shouldn't be going in there unless they really need something.

Being alone in your room or with your partner away from the kids is necessary to decompress after a long day of holiday activities. It helps to know you'll be able to fall asleep because you won't be bothered.

Now You Know How to Get a Better Night's Sleep

With these tips on how to get a better night's sleep, you can make it through the holiday season well-rested and full of energy to enjoy all of the festivities. 

There's no better way to improve your sleep quality than investing in a new mattress this holiday season. Here at Nest Bedding, we've got the best mattresses for every type of person so you can get the sleep you deserve. 

Ready for an upgrade in the bedroom? Contact us today so we can help you find the best mattress for your needs.