The KEY to restful, restorative sleep this holiday season
I know I'm not the only one who finds my sleep patterns get disrupted in December!
Evening events, traveling and sleeping in unfamiliar places, and catching up with family members can all get in the way of keeping to a regular bedtime.
Then, when we do go to bed, our bodies are often wired from all the activity.
That's why I want to talk about how we maintain our sleep during the holidays - so that we can come into the New Year with energy and without flares!
There are lots of great tips out there for how you can prepare your body for sleep. For instance:
switching off your screens before bed
picking a consistent bedtime, and sticking to it as far as possible
setting up your sleeping space to be comfortable (especially if you're traveling), and making sure it isn't too warm
But, did you know…
The way you move your body during the DAY affects how you sleep at night!
Here's how that works:
If you do TOO MUCH physical activity through the day, you can send your cortisol into overdrive, which can keep you awake at night…
And if you do TOO LITTLE exercise, that can affect your sleep too! A stiff, tight body can cause a number of problems during the night, like aches and pains and restless legs that keep you awake.
The Autoimmune Strong exercises are designed to sit in that sweet spot between too much and too little.
By helping you to move your body regularly, they allow your muscles to stretch out and relax, so that you can sleep more comfortably.
And by providing just a little bit of challenge, they strengthen and condition your body to be ready for tougher tasks - WITHOUT triggering a stress response that would keep you awake.
That's right - regular, gentle exercise is the best way to support your sleep for the holidays, and beyond!
Next week, we'll be digging even further into how exercise can help you stay well at this time of year. You can check back to the strategies we've already covered here.
I'd love to hear which tips you are implementing to maintain your health this December! Just hit reply to let me know!