7 Tips For Sleeping Better During the Holiday Season

For many of us, the holiday season isn’t just about festive gatherings, delicious meals, and spending time with loved ones. It can also bring sleeplessness and exhaustion.

A jam-packed schedule and frequent late-night celebrations can disrupt your sleep routine. In the Northern Hemisphere, we’re in the middle of winter — a time when we tend to need more sleep, not less. These factors can leave you feeling depleted by the time the new year rolls around.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. It is possible to have a holiday season that is actually restful and restorative. It all starts with prioritizing sleep.

Here are some practical tips to help you sleep better during the holiday season.

One of the biggest challenges during the holidays is maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

With parties that go late into the night, it's easy to let your regular bedtime slip. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Remember, you might need a few extra minutes of sleep in the winter.

While naps can be tempting — especially if you’re taking a break from work — try to limit them if you find it hard to sleep at night. If you must nap, keep it brief (20-30 minutes) and not too late in the day.

Consistency reinforces your body’s sleep-wake cycle, which can help prevent a holiday sleep hangover.

Unwind before bed with a relaxing routine to signal to your brain that it's time to sleep.

Not sure how to craft a bedtime routine? Consider one or more of the following activities:

• Taking a warm bath or shower

• Using a diffuser with relaxing essential oils

• Reading a book

• Practicing deep breathing or meditation

• Journaling

We’d also recommend that you limit screen time from devices like smartphones and computers. The blue light emitted can stimulate your brain and make it harder to fall asleep.

If you need a little support in relaxing before bedtime, our Slumber Patch Sleep Aid contains a blend of natural sleep aids to help you ease into dreamland. 

Holiday feasts are one of the season's highlights, but heavy meals before bed can disrupt your sleep. Try to avoid big meals within two hours of bedtime.

Be cautious with alcohol and caffeine as well. While those espresso martinis are hard to resist, alcohol can interfere with your sleep cycle, and caffeine can keep you awake.

Indulge, but remember the golden rule — everything in moderation!

Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper sleep.

It can be tempting to skip the gym during the holiday rush, especially if it’s cold. But maintaining an exercise routine will help you sleep better at night and feel energized during the day.

Just be mindful not to exercise too close to bedtime, as it might leave you too energized to sleep.

Create a room that's ideal for sleeping — a cool, dark, quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Consider using the following:

• Room-darkening shades. Exposure to light might make it more challenging to fall asleep, so a blockout curtain might help.

• Earplugs. They’re a simple way to block out music from your neighbor’s loud Christmas parties.

• Play some white noise. You can play white noise to block out sounds — try looking for white noise tracks on YouTube or Spotify. 

And, of course, it’s important to have a comfy sleep set-up. Ensure you have enough blankets to keep you cosy, but not so many that you overheat. You’ll also want a comfy pillow, like our allergy-busting Luxury Memory Foam SilverSafe Pillow or our Posiform Anti-Snore Pillow .

We’re not just telling you to pause and do some deep breathing exercises. We want you to be sure that you’re breathing properly throughout the night.

An obstructed airway or blocked nose can cause snoring . And this doesn’t just annoy your partner — it also means you’re not getting enough oxygen while you rest. Because of this, you’ll likely wake up groggy and feel tired throughout the day.

The good news? There are many solutions at your disposal. If a blocked nose or deviated septum is bothering you, grab our Airflow Clip Nasal Dilator . Our clinically proven Somnofit-S Anti-Snore Mouth Guard+ , on the other hand, is great for almost all snorers, as it helps keep your airways open while you sleep.

These aids can help regulate your sleep without the need for medication, ensuring you wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy the festivities.

The holidays can be magical and exciting, but they can also be stressful, disruptive, and exhausting. Prioritizing sleep can help you turn a potentially frantic time of the year into an opportunity for rest.

Adequate rest is key to not only surviving the holiday season but truly enjoying it. It only comes around once a year — and you can only savor it if you have the energy to do so.

It's easy to let sleep slip down your list of priorities during such a busy time, but giving it the importance it deserves will help you enjoy the holiday season to the fullest. 

The content in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical advice or concerns about snoring, sleep disorders, or related health issues.