How to Sleep on Christmas Eve: Tackle Excitement, Anxiety and More

We’re all familiar with the childlike excitement of the holiday season when the decorations are up, the fridge is full of delicious treats, and the presents are stacked under the tree. But just like the kids, we are likely to end up with too much energy to get proper shuteye during the festive period.

Whether you’re running around organising the family get-together (and stressing over your list of tasks) or indulging in a less healthy diet that keeps you up at night, we have some suggestions on how to sleep before Christmas.

Struggling to Sleep at Christmas?

The number one reason adults and children alike might be struggling with Christmas-inspired insomnia is, of course, the anticipation. And while you might not be staying up to spy on Santa, there are plenty of other things to keep your mind busy: hosting guests, holiday travel, or even just managing your own household’s festive itinerary.

Add to that the fact that we often eat many rich foods and treat ourselves to a few drinks, and it’s no wonder that our sleep schedule is quite disrupted during the holidays. But fear not, we have a few suggestions about how to sleep on Christmas Eve and beyond.

Stick to Your Routine

While it might be tempting to stay up late on Christmas Eve – or try to counter your impulses and hit the hay extra early – the best thing for your sleep quality is just keeping to your regular bedtime. Easing yourself into relaxation with your typical nighttime self-care – whether that’s with meditation or some reading – is a great hack for how to sleep before Christmas.

Ensure Peace and Quiet

In a similar vein, if you’re worrying about how to sleep on Christmas Eve in a busy home, it’s worth getting your bedroom ready for rest with a couple of simple tricks. Arm yourself with essentials such as earplugs and an eye mask, secure a white noise machine, and asses the heating/duvet situation for best sleep quality.

Steer clear of your smartphone too – cute animal videos or funny memes come hand-in-hand with the blue light from your display, keeping your brain from winding down.

Cut Down on Coffee

Caffeine might be good for fuelling you through the festive madness, but it’s not your friend when it comes to sleeping during the Christmas period.

You’d have heard this before, but coffee can keep your body pumped for as long as six hours, and will likely make you need the bathroom more often, so consider a noon cut-off point for your caffeinated beverages. Love getting cosy on the couch come evening time? Try a hot chocolate or a herbal tea instead of your normal cuppa.

Stay Off the Sugar

Another easy dietary adjustment for better sleep is cutting down on sweets close to bedtime. As you’d be well aware if you have children in the household, sugar can make you hyper, as well as increase the likelihood of waking up in the middle of the night.

According to experts, snacking on nuts and seeds or reaching for a banana when you have sugar cravings is much less disruptive to your sleep routine. So, when you’re planning how to sleep before Christmas, add keeping the Quality Street box out of sight to your list.

Get Organised

If you only take one thing away from our advice for how to sleep on Christmas Eve, make it this – tackle your to-do list early!

Tidying the house, getting ahead on your festive meal preparations, and sorting out everyone’s gifts with time to spare will take a load off your mind. And the less anxious you are about last-minute chores, the more peaceful your sleep is guaranteed to be.

The Gift of Sleep, From Get Laid Beds

As you prepare for the holiday season, don’t forget that a restful night begins with the right bed. This Christmas, why not treat yourself to a beautifully crafted wooden bed that guarantees comfort and style all year round?

Whether you're upgrading your own bedroom or treating a loved one, now’s the perfect time to invest in better sleep.

Explore the cosy wooden beds we have available and sort your sleep before the big day happens.