Our recent national study, Sleepless in America, found that 75 percent of Americans do not believe they are getting enough sleep. The study also found that about one half (51 percent) of people said they were not familiar with how to improve their sleep, and nearly one half (48 percent) were still searching for the perfect pillow. Couple those concerns with the excitement of the upcoming holidays, and getting a good night’s rest can become even more difficult.

Quality sleep, like diet and exercise, is vital to the proper functioning of healthy bodies and minds. Heed the following tips to enjoy holiday parties, family gatherings and presents by first getting plenty of quality sleep.

•Say no to second helpings. Overindulging during this time of year will not only affect the waistline, it can also impact good rest. In particular, avoid heavy meals before bedtime. A full stomach can make it more challenging to fall asleep.

•Relax before bedtime. Holiday stress and excitement can wreak havoc on sleep. To combat sleepless nights, develop a pre-sleep ritual to break the connection between the day’s excitement and bedtime. Consider writing in a journal, taking a hot bath or laying out your clothes for school, before hitting the sack.

•Stop worrying about the perfect gift. Why not indulge your parents or siblings with the gift of sleep? A pillow that reflects a family member’s individual sleep style can make for a truly thoughtful holiday present. Carpenter Co. has pillows designed for side, back and stomach sleepers, as well as pillows uniquely created for snorers, those with hot flashes and night sweats, and allergy sufferers. A gift customized to a loved one’s sleep needs offers the gift of a perfect night’s rest during the holiday season and through the New Year. Carpenter Co. products can be purchased at major retailers including Belk, Fred Meyer, Cabela’s and Target.com.

•Maintain a healthy mattress. A quality mattress is of vital importance to a good night’s rest— during the holidays and all year long. If purchasing a new mattress sounds too expensive for your family, think about adding a mattress topper. Mattress toppers by Carpenter Co. have the added benefit of RELY™ fiber, an antimicrobial agent that inhibits the growth of known allergens such as mold, mildew and odors. In other words, you’ll be sleeping and breathing better! Happy slumber.

SleepBetter.org provides information and advice for people to sleep better. For more information, check out www.sleepbetter.org. Visitors to the site discover helpful features, including an easy-to-navigate archive of sleep-related articles, an extensive catalog of more than 150 sleep tips, an interactive sleep poll that displays up-to-the-moment poll results and the site’s exclusive Zzzz Score™ test that helps accurately identify personal sleep needs.