Between the holidays and the long winter days, you might be feeling pretty tired. Luckily, January 3rd brings us the Festival of Sleep, which is the perfect time to catch up on your beauty rest before you have to worry about school and work schedules. One of the best things about this unique holiday, apart from the extra sleep, is you’ll find yourself spending less money on this day. This is bound to help your finances out and will make you feel even more rested. So, embrace the Festival of Sleep with ease when you utilize these ten tips to maximize the benefits of the day.
1. Skip the Caffeine
On the day of the Festival of Sleep, you might want to change up your routine a bit to help you get the most sleep possible. If you’re a coffee, tea or soda fan then today is the day where you go cold turkey and avoid the caffeine in these items. Caffeine can keep you up longer, so you won’t want it in your system if you’re trying to maximize your rest. Avoiding these caffeine products can also save you a bit of money as you won’t need to replenish the items as quickly. You should also avoid chocolate on this day as it does contain caffeine too. You might feel a little sluggish, but it won’t matter because you’ll be snoozing the day away anyway.
2. Embrace Yoga and Meditation
If you’d like to get your body and mind ready to make the most out of the holiday, then you might want to consider doing some yoga and/or meditation. There are actually many yoga moves designed to help your body relax properly, so you can drift off to sleep with ease. Doing yoga will also provide you with a bit of exercise that will make your body feel better about the excess lounging and sleeping that happens on this day. Meditation is also a great way to improve on your sleep needs. If your mind is racing while you’re trying to sleep then take some time out of the day to practice meditation. It should clear your mind, so you can finally get the sleep you need. You can even use an app to help you get the most out of your meditation time.
3. Use a Blue Light Filter
These days, we’re surrounded my technology. Although it might help make life efficient, it can actually wreak havoc on our body’s natural sleep cycle. The blue light found in phones and other technology isn’t great for the eyes, but it will also make sleeping harder too. There is a solution to this problem though, especially if you don’t want to give up your phone or laptop for the day. That is, a blue light filter. You can find many options online for free, which will come in handy if you’re on a tight budget. Simply look around and find the light filter that works best for you. Before you know it, you’ll feel a lot better about your use of technology, especially before sleeping.
4. White Noise
The silence can make it impossible for some people to sleep. On the other hand, many people don’t have silence surrounding them, which can also cause sleep problems. There is one great solution to this problem though, which is white noise. You can find white noise in many ways, so you don’t have to run out and purchase a sleep machine if you don’t want to. One of the first places to look is your mobile phone. If you have a streaming music service then you should be able to find playlists with white noise, ocean sounds and more. Another option is to look on your cable’s music channels as there is often white noise there that is accompanied by peaceful images. Your laptop can help you out too, with some of the same features. Of course, if you want to keep things simple then use a fan to create the white noise you need to sleep.
5. Keep It Cold
Believe it or not, but one of the best things you can do to help improve your sleep is to turn the heat down. It is actually healthier to sleep in a cold room and it might help you sleep for longer. So, this Festival of Sleep, you might want to turn the heater way down, if not off. This will help you save quite a bit of money in the long run anyway. If you’re still not cold enough, then crack open a window and let the room fill with fresh air. The cold will help you nod off as you get comfortable under your blankets and it will make you feel more relaxed as the air feels fresher. Your sinuses especially will thank you for the change, as the heater tends to dry out the air, which is bound to make you feel uncomfortable.
6. Skip the Beverages
If you’re aiming to get several hours of sleep in one go, then you might want to skip out on drinking anything two to three hours prior to laying down. Sleeping off schedule might mean your body will wake you faster if you do need to get up to use the restroom. However, this doesn’t mean you should dehydrate yourself to get some sleep. Instead, consider drinking plenty of water a few hours before sleeping. A water with electrolytes might also help your body stay hydrated longer. If you’re having trouble getting sleepy, then you can always try an herbal tea like chamomile. This should help you get the most possible sleep, so you can feel well rested.
7. Turn off the Phone
The blue light on your phone isn’t the only thing that can keep you up. The temptation of using social media and other apps might also become a problem while you’re trying to catch up on your sleep. Of course, there is also the problem of receiving calls and texts while you’re asleep. Your best option is to turn off your phone to make sure nothing will interfere with your sleep. You don’t have to power all the way down if this makes you uncomfortable. Instead, consider using airplane mode or simply turning the phone on silent and placing it screen down. Avoiding the phone might also help you relax even more, which is always great for your health.
8. Block Out Light
Our bodies are naturally designed to sleep when it is dark outside. It doesn’t matter if you’re a night owl or a morning person, creating a dark environment can help you slumber more peacefully and longer. So, for this festival of sleep you might invest in a way to improve the light quality in your bedroom, or wherever you choose to sleep. You can utilize blinds and drapes, especially if you’re looking to create a great aesthetic in the room. However, if you’re on a tight budget then don’t think twice about putting a blanket or other thick cloth item over your windows. You can even utilize tin foil to block out sun and heat. Your dark room is bound to help you snooze for much longer. Of course, if you don’t have access to items to block out light then consider a sleep mask. These items are actually much cheaper than you’d expect.
9. Embrace Movies
Sleeping might not be an option for you, especially if you have kids. There are a few solutions to help you rest up though. For instance, you can declare the day an official movie day. Pick out several movies to put on for the kids and have everyone hop in bed with you. Younger children are bound to nap through some of the movies, which will give you the perfect chance to catch up on some sleep too. Even if you don’t get to sneak in a bit of sleep, you’ll still have spent the entire day resting, which can do your body good.
10. Utilize Accessories
These days, there’s an abundance of items you can use to help improve the quality of your sleep as well as the duration. For starters, you might consider purchasing a mouth guard if you tend to grind your teeth while sleeping. This cheap and simple device can save you a lot of pain while also improving the way you feel after a good night’s rest. Another great item for sleeping is a breathe strip. This item is used for those that have problems with snoring. Of course, you’ll have to try out a few brands as everyone’s needs are different. There are special pillows that can be used for those that might have cramps, back pain or trouble breathing while sleeping. Pregnancy pillows can also do a world of good for those that are expecting and even those that aren’t. One of the newer trends on the market are weighted blankets. These blankets help fight anxiety, depression and stress while giving you high quality sleep.
The Festival of Sleep can be the perfect time to concentrate on your health and improve how rested you really are. These tips can help you maximize your ability to sleep without forcing you to blow your budget. You might even find that you save a little of money on this special holiday, which will help you sleep even better.
