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With the anticipation of presents, pudding, and Santa, the excitement of Christmas Eve can leave you feeling wide awake. Here are our tips on how to get a better night's sleep ahead of the big day.
9 Min Read | By Chris Clark
Last Modified 22 October 2024 First Added 8 November 2023
With the countdown to Christmas in full swing, the festivities have begun, with many decorating their Christmas trees, playing Yuletide tunes, and decking the halls with boughs of holly. It is a thrilling time of year, not just for kids but for adults too.
However, between festive parties, wrapping gifts, stuffing stockings, and ensuring that everything is ready for Santa, you might find it hard to sleep this time of year. Whether it’s endless to-do lists or pre-holiday jitters keeping you up, it’s important to prioritise sleep so you can feel refreshed and full of energy on Christmas Day.
So, how can you get a good night’s sleep on Christmas Eve? Read on to learn how to have a restful night without losing the magic.
In our Sleep Study, 31% of people stated they found it harder to fall asleep after a day of stress. And which day is more stressful than Christmas Eve? Apart from those lucky, organised few who have everything ready, most of us run around like headless chickens trying to tie up loose ends before the big day.
There’s a mix of both negative and positive emotions, especially around an important holiday like Christmas. Many of us remember the giddy excitement we had as children. But as adults, this can often be replaced with feelings of stress and anxiety, making it hard to switch off at the end of the day. Here are just some of the reasons that Christmas Eve can cause us to experience sleep difficulties:
The stress we feel around Christmas is often self-imposed because we pressure ourselves to ensure everyone is having a good time. It’s important to remember to check in with yourself and try to enjoy the festivities yourself, too.
If you struggle to doze off on Christmas Eve and want to be well-rested for the festivities, we’re here to help. Whatever the cause of your sleep issues, here are our top tips for getting you in the right headspace for snoozing:
Undoubtedly, the excitement of Christmas leaves us all feeling a bit hyper without throwing adrenaline-boosting chemicals into the mix. And with what’s likely to be an early start the next day, avoiding caffeine during the afternoon is one of the best ways to ensure a blissful sleep on Christmas Eve.
Caffeine has a half-life between 2 and 12 hours. That’s the amount of time it stays in your system. When you have a cup of coffee, the caffeine stimulates all the nerves in your frontal lobe – waking your brain up, boosting adrenaline, and blocking sleep-inducing chemicals. If you’re wondering when’s the best time for that warming cup of coffee or how many is too many, read our post on caffeine and sleep.
In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, ensure your days are well-planned so that the energy you expend during your productive activities sends you into a deep slumber. Avoid watching too many Christmas movies on the sofa, and add some activities to your day, like baking, festive crafts, or even getting things ready for Christmas morning.
The best way to guarantee a productive day is to make a to-do list, including tasks for buying, wrapping, cooking, and decorating. By bedtime, you’ll likely have used up all your energy and will sleep like a baby. To help you stay organised, we’ve created our Christmas countdown so you can track how long you have left to tick off those last-minute tasks on your list.
If you’re one of those last-minute wrappers who spend all night putting the finishing touches on gifts to go under the tree, try to plan ahead. Leaving the wrapping till the last minute can be time-consuming and cause unnecessary stress, which can keep you up at night. To make Christmas Eve more enjoyable, set aside time throughout the month to wrap your gifts so that your ribbons are tied before Christmas Eve. Then, all that’s left to do is place them under the tree, ready for the morning.
If you’re hosting Christmas dinner this year, don’t leave the prep until the last minute. Instead of worrying about everything you need to do on Christmas morning, aim to do it the night before and enjoy a well-earned Christmas Day lie-in (if your kids allow it).
To ensure your vegetables stay fresh, peel them and store them in a sealed container in the fridge overnight. Don’t worry; they’ll still taste just as delicious. Keeping your mind active by ticking tasks off your to-do list on Christmas Eve will help you relax when you get into bed.
Sticking to your usual sleep routine on Christmas Eve will psychologically prepare you for sleep. A strong evening routine is important for kids and adults to build healthy sleep habits. Listen to your body and remember to take the time to wind down so you can be at your best on Christmas morning.
To ensure a stress-free slumber, try some relaxing activities, such as taking a warm bath, putting on your Christmas PJs, having a warm festive drink, or watching your favourite Christmas movie.
Enjoy a nice festive-themed drink or snack, such as warm milk with a sprinkle of cinnamon, peppermint hot chocolate, or gingerbread cookies—great for winding down in the evenings and getting into the Christmas spirit. There are plenty of drinks to help you sleep and bedtime snacks to choose from. Just make sure to steer clear of caffeine, alcohol, or too much sugar.
Preparing for Christmas morning together is a good way to conclude the day and transition into bedtime. Set out the mince pies and milk for Santa with the kids or arrange the presents under the tree for the morning. Doing this gets you ready for the next day and signals to little ones that it’s time for bed.
A tidy room is a tidy mind, so consider decluttering your bedroom before hitting the sheets. This will eliminate unwanted chores on Christmas morning when you have more important things to focus on.
You can also achieve a relaxed ambience by switching on your fairy lights and lighting candles. Scented candles, in particular, are great for changing how you feel; they create a sense of calm. Additionally, soothing music can help your mind slow down and get ready for sleep. Listening to calming music and paying attention to your breath will help you become more mindful and at ease. Read our guide to the 4-7-8 method for more tips.
An hour before heading off to bed, try to limit your exposure to light by avoiding screens. If you struggle to cut out screens completely, try lowering your brightness or adding a special screen protector to reduce blue light.
Blue light emitted from screens can keep you awake at night. This is because it disrupts the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. As melatonin is produced by the body as light decreases, staring at a screen or scrolling on social media can delay this natural response, causing trouble sleeping on Christmas Eve.
Instead, try listening to an audiobook or podcast or reading a Christmas bedtime story to help you get into the festive mood while preparing for sleep.
Know that being stressed, anxious, or excited for Christmas is normal. Before bed, think about what you’re most looking forward to in the morning and write down any worries or last-minute tasks that pop into your mind. If sleep doesn’t come easy, be patient and practice self-compassion. Remind yourself of the fun day ahead, and try not to start clock-watching or worrying about how much sleep you’ll get. Enjoy the holidays, and let the magic of Christmas do the work for you.
If you keep your little ones occupied with fun and laughter, they’ll hopefully sleep well at bedtime. Children often become very excited for Christmas, especially the day before, waiting for Santa to come and thinking about opening presents the next day.
This can make it hard for them to sleep on Christmas Eve, but we have some tips to help calm them down before bedtime so they can sleep before Santa comes.
6. Make some sleep-friendly drinks: A glass of warm milk or hot chocolate can help you fall asleep.
7. Create a relaxing sleep environment: Follow a normal bedtime routine, such as a warm bath and changing into Christmas pyjamas. Pair that with soft and dim lighting to promote a calming atmosphere.
8. Read Christmas stories together: There’s nothing like reading a heartfelt book with your children to get into the spirit of things.
9. Get ready for bed: Talk to your little ones about the importance of sleep and look forward to the day ahead.
10. Be patient and understanding: Know that it’s normal for kids to feel restless and excited about Christmas. Offer reassurance and cuddles to calm them down.
See all articles by Chris Clark
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