Healthy Living

It’s that time of year again- the season of giving, merriment and visiting relatives and loved ones to enjoy the Holidays with one another. While all of these things are undoubtedly events to look forward to, unfortunately, travel during this season can be a nightmare. With everyone trying to get home for the Holidays, airports are more crowded than usual, flights are delayed, people are getting bumped from flights- you may wonder how you’ll ever get home to your family. The following are some suggestions for ways to remain calm and have a stress-free travel experience!

1. Preparation is Key: In order to not get overwhelmed in a bustling airport, make sure you are completely packed and prepared the night before your trip. Have everything laid out and ready so you can wake up the next day and hit the road on time, avoiding any last-minute snags. Be sure to arrive early for your departure as well, so you won’t have the worry of missing your flight (or bus or train).

2. Know the Truth About Travel Safety: Concern with the plane crashing tends to heighten stress & anxiety for travelers. Many people don’t know- or forget- how rare instances of plane crashes are, and that it’s actually safer to fly than drive. Do some research to put your mind at ease.

3. Make Yourself as Comfortable as Possible: The second you get to your seat, try to get yourself as comfortable as necessary so that you can relax and not feel anxious or frustrated with your trip. Bring a billow, have a beverage, bring a book or magazine- anything so you can feel at ease as quickly as possible.

4. Expect the Unexpected!: During the holiday season, travel is notoriously fickle. Expect delays so that when they occur, you won’t be devastated. In all honesty, if the plane takes off on schedule, you will be having much better luck than a lot of people during holiday travel season!

5. Remember your destination: At the end of the day, you’ll be home soon and with your loved ones. That’s really what matters. The flight/travel experience may not be the best during this busy time, but you’ll be where you’re trying to go before you know it. Keep the end goal in mind to help calm you down.

To read more about tips for stress-free travel, check out this post form Pop Sugar. Happy Holidays everyone, and safe travels!

Getting enough sleep, and waking up refreshed are some the best things you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, busy lives with a myriad distractions can make winding down, getting a good nights sleep, and rising early a sometimes painful process. A recent post on Refinery 29, discusses the ways that night owls and and early birds function differently, and that shifting our sleep schedule is more than just a matter of will power – it is a matter planning.

While some default settings in your sleep pattern may be genetic, you can shift your circadian clock by gradually adjusting your sleep times by 15 minutes. Stephanie Silberman, PhD, a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine indicates that people will attempt to function on less sleep rather than attempt to adjust their sleep schedule. But it is important to remember that the body’s need for sleep remains constant, and that learning to adapt your sleep to your circumstances is one the best ways to remain healthy.

Also, people’s perceptions of sleep are also a little skewed. Some believe that feeling groggy and less than enthusiastic upon waking up in the morning is indicative of a bad night’s sleep. Not so, says Silberman. This is simply what sleep researchers refer to as “sleep lag,” the time between sleep and the adjustment to waking life. Feeling less the 100 percent first thing in the morning is totally natural and does not necessarily indicate bad sleep.

There are strategies that researchers say can help facilitate falling asleep faster and improve overall sleep quality. Below are three you can try:

Turn off gadgets two hours before bed.

This will be tough for many of us, but studies show that just a two hours at the screen of a tablet can reduce melatonin – a hormone essential for sleep – by 22%.

Catch some rays in the morning.

Light exposure is important to our circadian rhythms. Being exposed to UV light in the morning sends the signal to your body that is time to be awake. This helps set your rhythm so that later in the day you can fall asleep at the proper time.

Try wearing your socks to bed.

Swiss researchers have shown that when you are about to fall asleep, blood flow is redirected to your hands and feet. Covering your feet will help your body temperature drop more quickly and allow you to fall asleep faster.

Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Travel

Adjust Your Circadian Rhythms For Earlier Rising And Better Sleep