All I want for Christmas is…..SLEEP
By Felicity Barnes
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the festive circus is in town and the countdown is on…
…the dazzle of the lights, the music, the aromas of delicious food and the prospect of a hot drink to warm the chills from battling the crowds, plus for some of us, the dream of rest and rebalancing…
But the reality for many, can be far removed from the insta-ready imagery that we are surrounded by. Anxiety, overwhelm and stress can dominate, affecting mood, sleep and well-being.
fEELING OVERWHELMED?
The purpose of this article is not to put a downer on the festivities, we should be delighted that we can see family and friends freely this year. (well most of us are…though a few exceptions inevitably slip through!)
But life is not easy and it is important to understand that there may be a myriad of reasons why people feel overwhelmed at this time of year, whether it is financial pressures, social anxiety, work pressures, lifestyle, health, that person you feel duty bound to include in your plans even though…yup, the list goes on.
So how do we face the festivities head on, with some self-preservation in place? How do we retain some sense of balance and feel some benefit of rest and revitalisation from the holiday rather than give in entirely to the stress and pressure?
2/3rds of British people, including those not even celebrating Christmas, felt “stressed” by the season by early December.
- YouGov December 2021
Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are terms we use interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. They manifest some similarities but actually are quite different.
Stress is triggered, there is usually some level of logic involved. Our bodies physiologically change when exposed to stress: heart rate is elevated, body temperature rises, our breathing is faster, there is muscle tension. Our bodies are kicking in hormonal responses with cortisol and adrenaline, our fight or flight response to a threat or situation.
While anxiety presents some biological similarities, it is often unexplainable, it is driven by fear rather than an actual presentation of facts to react against.
Whatever way you look at how pressure, worry and overwhelm manifest, the upshot is often disrupted sleep, imbalance and unsettled feelings.
Ok, we know we can’t take the seasonal stress and strain away, we aren’t here to tell you how to deal with your individual holiday merry-go-round, keep your calm around the in-laws or navigate the balance of power in who does what in your house…that is out of our jurisdiction!
What we can do, is help you create rituals that support restorative recovery and consistent sleep that will help maintain your energy throughout the period and give you a good start to your new year.
According to the www.sleepfoundation.org adults 18-64 need 7-9 hours sleep a night. The reality, is that around ¾ of British adults sleep less than 7 hours a night according to The Sleep Council.
Aviva Insurance conducted a survey in 2017, that revealed two thirds (67%) of UK adults suffer from disrupted sleep and nearly a quarter (23%) manage no more than five hours a night.
Our circadian rhythm
Our circadian rhythm is individual to each of us and regulates biological activity such as blood pressure, temperature and hormone balance for example.
Insulin levels can become affected, which in turn impacts our energy. Normal thyroid function is put under pressure and can slow metabolism, cause fatigue and lead to conditions like hair loss.
Hormones leptin and ghrelin regulate the body’s natural control on overeating, meaning when these hormones are imbalanced we can suffer from weight gain.
Stress hormone cortisol is directly linked to sleep hormone melatonin, they need to be synced to ensure quality sleep. Cortisol levels are
elevated when our bodies are depleted and out of balance, this can become chronic and lead to a “wired” sense of tiredness with an inability to fall asleep…overtired.
A vicious circle ensures.
Sleep interrupted over the festive period may not cause dramatic or noticeable biological shifts instantly, but it gives way to undesirable sleep habits. So why not bring some moments of serenity to the madness of your day, to help re-centre before you sleep
“A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.”
- Charlotte Bronte
Scent to sleep
Nicola Elliott, Founder of Neom, knows about living with stress and functioning under pressure, it ultimately drove her to develop the brand.
From the original blends to today, the team have created unique, 100% natural scent blends with an ability to help transport your mood to just the right place.
Scent to Sleep, is a collection of simple rituals that can help instill a mood of calm, a presence of mind, a moment to breathe and an aura of readiness for wholesome, deep and undisturbed sleep – as they say, Small Steps. Big Difference.
Bedtime Heroes & The Perfect Night’s Sleep
Now, if you are instantly turned off sleep products by the thought of the scent of lavender, stay tuned! The team at Neom have two scents to choose from within the category.
BEDTIME HERO is the newer scent. A chamomile blend with ylangylang and cedarwood. It is slightly more sweet, fresh and a little fruity…like a comforting warm drink. The candle is the perfect partner to your evening wind-down. Set the mood, unplug devices and let the scent fill your space as you cleanse and ready for rest.
PERFECT NIGHT'S SLEEP is the original bestselling Tranquility fragrance, unchanged. It is a true lavender, floral herbaceous blend with notes of chamomile and patchouli, bringing a dry, hay quality that is deep, restorative and instantly relaxing.
Sweet chamomile with a twist of spicy ylang ylang and warming cedarwood. Fruity yet super-soothing. Hand poured and blended only with natural wax and 11 of the purest possible essential oils to fill the room with a 100% natural relaxing fragrance.
After you’ve finished your evening routine…and before you slip into bed, spritz the Bedtime Hero Pillow Mist liberally across your pillow and duvet. You will be fast asleep in no time, that deep, dreamless, immobile sleep that is rare and precious.
It seems to me that the gift of restful and rejuvenating sleep is as valuable as anything else you could imagine and if you want to know what’s on my wish list this year, it’s got to be the Cocoonzzz Mulberry Silk Pillowcase (if you’re pushing the boat out…but what price is beauty sleep?)
Silk is the perfect partner to the most restorative, restful sleep as it regulates temperature so you won’t get overheated but you’ll stay cosy. Perfection, especially if temperature in bed is something that causes your sleep disturbances.
Added to that – silk is smoother than cotton, so will not cause friction on the skin, helping fend off those pesky fine lines we see on the side we sleep most…plus it doesn’t give you bed-head either.
Don’t walk…run!
oN MY WISH LIST
Cocoonzzz Pillowcases are made from 100% Mulberry Silk and with this they bring a whole host of benefits to you beauty sleep.
Beauty Insider final word:
Wishing you a restful, restorative, peaceful season.
Look after yourself.
See you in 2023!
