December is upon us, even though we’ve had the weather for it for a month now. The season is in full swing. The holidays. Some might say the holi-daze. For those of us with sleep irregularities, the holiday season can foster an even more erratic sleep schedule.

There are a number of things you can do to prevent the onslaught of stress and anxiety this time of year can produce. First and foremost, you can try to get ahead of the busy schedule by planning. Not everything needs to be done in a week–or even three weeks! Dr. Bez suggests paying a little more attention to your schedule this time of year. For example, if you have shopping to do, it might be worth planning that excursion during the weekdays when fewer people will be out shopping. Heck, think about shopping online!

And here’s a more novel idea: schedule some “worry time” away from sleepy time. A few or three hours before bed, write down your thoughts, your to-do list, problems, and possible solutions to confront worry at a set time for a few minutes each evening. This way, it’s less likely those problems will find you at 3 a.m. Scheduling your worry can actually train your brain that the time to worry is done when it’s time to rest and sleep. Stay a happy elf through this season and avoid becoming a Grinch.

And while it can get very cold through the winters in Westerville, you can further manage your discomfort by simply staying warm! Good sleep can be managed with thoughtful care–just what you can expect from central Ohio’s leading TMJ expert. You take care of you, and we’ll be here to help. Happy holidays from all of us at Dr. Bez’s office.