(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Are you feeling a bit out of sorts this week? You're not alone. Experts say your sleep patterns could be out of whack after the holidays.
The holidays are about eating, drinking, late-night celebrations and days off. Dr. Kimberly Lemke says all these things can disrupt our sleep patterns well into the new year.
Even in the gray of January, it's important to consider what she calls your “sleep balloon” and the things that prepare you to sleep at night. These can include daylight, physical activity and eating at the right times, Lemke said.
“If you think of it as anything sensory-related, that’s what fills our sleep balloon,” she said.
Seven hours of sleep is a good good, she said, but don't pay so much attention to the actual hours but to the things during the day that lead to better sleep.
Alcohol, financial and relationship stress, lack of physical activity and anxiety are all contributors to lack of sleep.
Lemke says 50 million to 70 million people suffer from sleep disorders.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok