Visiting friends or family for Christmas can be a great way of getting out of cooking the dinner and dodging hours of getting the house ready. But we also all very much like our home comforts and one downside to staying at someone else's home over the festive period is being away from your own bed.
Whether you're worried about a bad back from sleeping on the sofa or (even worse) floor, or can already envision your legs dangling off the edge of a too-small bed, Christmas visits can threaten a good night's sleep and by the end of your visit, your hosts might get a bit worried about the bags under your eyes.
So, if you need all the sleep you can get to deal with family arguments about what to put on the telly, or who cheated while playing board games, Stylist has spoken to Martin Seeley, sleep expert and CEO of Mattress Next Day, to find out his top tips on how to get some rest this Christmas while in a less than familiar setting. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Communication is Key
When you are in a busy home at Christmas, sleeping can get tricky. Mr Seeley recommends communicating clearly and setting boundaries by asking for what you need to get a good night's rest. While it can be difficult to communicate how you feel or awkward to ask for something better when you need it, Seeley recommends being direct even with your in-laws who you may not know too well.
He added: “Setting boundaries early will also allow those whose house it is to know what kind of sleeper you are. If you ask early on for things that you know will make your stay more comfortable, it will be less awkward at the end when everyone notices how tired you look even though you said you slept fine.”
Bring your home comforts
Something as simple as bringing your own pillow can make sure you are comfy but also bring something familiar to your sleeping environment.
“Having the right pillow for you is incredibly important for getting a good night’s sleep, and everyone has a different pillow preference,” Mr Seeley explained. It is also important to sleep on a pillow that is not flat or lumpy as it can often lead to disturbed sleep from a lack of neck and head support.
Try not to eat and drink too much before bed
This one might be tricky at Christmas as a lot of us will enjoy a cheeky late night leftover sandwich or mince pie with a swig of something before bed. But if you want to wake up feeling bright and bushy, it is a good idea to avoid eating or drinking too late.
“Going to bed really full can make you feel uncomfortable, so make sure to let the food go down before you lie down,” said Mr Seeley. “The same goes with drink. Having alcohol in your system means you spend less time in the important REM stage of sleep, which leads to you waking up feeling groggy and less refreshed. If you drink too much you may also find your sleep is disturbed due to needing to go to the toilet in the night, and if you’re not in your own house this can be even more of an inconvenience.”
Change up your environment
It might be out of your hands where you sleep in someone's house, you might be able to make some small changes to make if feel more homey and comfortable.
“An easy way to help yourself get the best possible sleep at a different house is by adjusting your environment accordingly,” explained Mr Seeley. “If you’re in a spare room, you could change a few things to make it feel more like your room, whether that’s by adjusting the pillows, adding a blanket, tidying away any mess, dimming the lights or bringing in a lamp from another room.” If you are on the sofa, Mr Seeley added, make sure it is comfortable for you by removing hard cushions and adding pillows. Bring a duvet and blankets and turn off any bright lights that might keep you up.
You can bring trusty items that will help you block out the world while you sleep such as silicone or foam earplugs or an eye mask. This may sound odd, but Mr Seeley added that if you were used to load noises of the city and were spending the festive period out in the country, you could try white or brown noise or listening to a playlist to help you doze off.
Keep up your usual routines if you can
Lots of us who are off this Christmas might not even know what day it is as we eat more helpings of Christmas dinner and watch countless films. But don't give up entirely on your usual routine as it can mess with your sleep and energy levels, according to Mr Seeley.
“Getting to bed at a decent hour and allowing yourself to try and get the full eight hours’ sleep that your body and brain needs is imperative if you want to feel refreshed the next day. Perhaps give yourself a time each night that you will make sure you are in bed by, and try to stick to it.”
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