Tending to Sleep During the Holidays

In āyurveda we understand the importance of tending to our sleep, especially during the holiday season. Ayurvedic principles offer valuable guidance in optimizing sleep patterns and ensuring we feel well-rested and rejuvenated. This time of year it can be particularly challenging to get enough sleep due to increased social engagements and the tendency to indulge in rich, heavy meals.

Āyurveda reminds us to prioritize routine and consistency, setting aside dedicated time for relaxation and winding down before bed. And if you don’t already have a consistent bedtime routine, now is a great time to start! According to āyurveda it’s best to be in bed by 10:00pm, but when holiday festivities have us up past our bedtime we can ensure that we get to sleep easier by maintaining our regular evening preparations. It can be tempting to get home late from a holiday party and fall straight into bed, but our bodies and minds need cues that it’s time for sleep, so take the extra time to prepare for bed as you normally would - wash your face, brush your teeth, get into real pajamas. These three simple routines can do wonders for your sleep.

Incorporating calming practices such as gentle yoga, meditation, and aromatherapy can help soothe and quiet the mind, enabling a deep and restful sleep. This short bedtime yoga sequence is a great way to wind down and tap into the settling energy of āpana vāyu.

Prioritizing your sleep during the holidays will provide the foundation for a peaceful and restorative holiday season.