Christmas and New Year celebrations are just around the corner. That means that you need to endure sleepless nights because of parties, family gatherings, and other social events.
Although you may not feel it during the first sleepless night, the following all-nighters will take a toll on your body and mind.
If you haven't prepared for sleepless nights this holiday season, here are some tips on how you can survive them.
Sleepless Nights on Christmas and New Year Celebrations
Numerous studies already debunked the belief that adults need eight hours of sleep per day. One of these experts is internal medicine specialist Dr. Suchismitha Rajamanya.
She clarified that adults only need six to seven hours of sleep if they want to be well-rested and re-energized every other day.
"Adequate sleep is required for the body to support various vital functions and to promote optimal physical and mental performance. During this time, the body undergoes essential restorative processes, such as tissue repair, and muscle growth," she explained via Health Shots.
This is because having more than one sleepless night can negatively affect your physical and mental health. Dr. Rajamanya said that although you will sleep more than eight hours after a sleepless night, your body still needs to make up for that all-nighter for a few days.
Numerous studies explained that having 17-19 hours of no sleep is similar to having 0.05% blood alcohol content in the body. Because of this, having no sleep for more than one day can negatively affect how you normally function.
How to Survive Sleepless Nights
Although many people already know how sleepless nights can negatively affect their body and mind, some of them can't avoid going on all-nighters since Christmas and New Year are just around the corner.
If you are one of these individuals, here are the things you can do to survive a sleepless night:
- Make sure you drink plenty of water after an all-nighter because having no sleep can make you dehydrated and lead to more concentrated urine.
- If you can, try taking 10-15 minutes of sleep time (power nap), especially if you have work after an all-nighter.
- Only eat light meals since your stomach and other internal organs may not work properly after a sleepless night.
Now that you know the DOs after a sleepless night, Spine Health provided the DON'Ts, such as the following:
- Don't drink coffee so you can sleep once the day is over after an all-nighter.
- Avoid making important decisions about your work, relationship, or family since your mind will not work properly after a sleepless night.
- After a sleepless night, try avoiding doing strenuous activities, such as going to the gym, lifting heavy objects at the house, etc., because you are more at risk of injury since you have no sleep.
- Never drive after a sleepless night since your focus is not as efficient as the day when you have enough sleep.
