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Sleep is one of our most precious commodities!
During the holiday season though, it seems to be the first thing we give up to the hustle and bustle. But, sleep is necessary. We can't function without it. The gift of sleep is the one present we should give ourselves this year.

Make sleep a priority. Small children usually have a set bedtime and typically have nighttime rituals to help lull them to sleep. Try the same idea for yourself. Building sleep into your daily routine will help it come more easily when you fall into bed.

You can't go from running around full speed ahead to sound asleep in just a few minutes. Sleep needs to be prepared for. Your body is not able to shut down too quickly. Staying up later than we are used to causes our bodies to rebel, not falling asleep even though we are desperate for a few hours of shuteye.

The best thing to do is start relaxing and getting yourself prepared for sleep a few hours before you hope to be asleep. Set a reasonable time each night to get to sleep. Then start planning the hours leading up to that.
You want to get all the stressful, demanding things completed well before you hope to be asleep.

Don't exercise within 2 hours of going to bed.
That can cause your body to be too revved up to sleep. On the other hand, don't neglect your body during the holidays and think that skipping regular exercise will give you more time to sleep. Even if you have to scale back your exercise program, be sure to do something for your body. Take a walk after dinner with your family to look at the holiday decorations or spend some time at the gym just for you.

Take a warm shower or bath about 2 hours before you go to bed to help you relax.
The lowering of your body temperature as your body adjusts will help you fall asleep. Keep your house colder than during the day. Cooler temperatures will help you fall into a deep sleep.

Look for relaxing things to do right before bed. Try reading a book or listening to music for a while. If you enjoy crafting, use this time to work on a project. Find something that helps you relax and make some time for it every night. Even if you only have twenty minutes to spend on it, it will help you relax and get ready for sleep. You could also drink a cup of warm milk or decaffeinated tea to help soothe your body.

Most importantly, you need to relax your mind in order to fall asleep. Train yourself to not think about all the things you still have to do. Learn to accept that not everything will get done immediately. Treat yourself to some pampering, well-deserved sleep. You'll be happy that you did.

Learn more about this author, Beth Celli.
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