how to fall asleep on Christmas Eve

Finally, it’s one more sleep till Christmas day and you’re wondering why it’s so hard to drift off to sleep. Well, whether it’s nerves about that big family dinner, mentally checking your present list or the excitement of the Christmas day activities, there are plenty of reasons why falling asleep feels a lot more difficult on Christmas Eve. The festive period can bring different feelings for each of us and it’s not uncommon to experience anxiety or feel under pressure to make sure that the big day itself is just perfect. So, with this sleep guide, we will show you how to fall asleep fast on Christmas Eve and prepare you and your children for an undisturbed sleep.

From breathing exercises to meditation and listening to soothing sleep sounds, these tips and advice on how to sleep on Christmas Eve are worth following to help calm your racing mind.

why can’t I sleep on Christmas Eve?

If you have things to do on Christmas Eve, then leaving everything till the last minute will only bring about a sense of stress and panic, leading to a poor night’s sleep. One of the best ways to eliminate last-minute panics is to plan and prepare as much as possible in advance. The best way to do this is to create a list and calmly work through each task. This means that by the time Christmas Eve comes around, you can focus on relaxing.

best way to fall asleep fast: prepare your body for sleep

How we take care of our body and physical health has a big impact on our sleep and it’s easy to fall into unhealthy patterns that can worsen your sleep, especially around the festive season. It’s important to prepare your body for bedtime, which can make all the difference in how quickly you fall asleep. So, on Christmas Eve make sure to avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine before bed. Caffeine has a half-life of 5 hours, so it's advisable to go caffeine-free from mid-afternoon. Taking part in exercise during the day is also great for achieving quality sleep. Just don’t do any high-intensity exercise right before you climb under the duvet, as you’ll find it takes longer to fall asleep.

how to fall asleep when excited: meditation

When you’re excited and you need to calm your mind, meditation techniques specially created to achieve more restful sleep can help you fall asleep easily by relaxing the body and mind. Practicing mindfulness meditation promotes relaxation by focusing on the present and means you worry less while falling asleep. Simple solutions such as breathing exercises and guided meditations could be the answer for how to get to sleep on Christmas Eve.

quick ways to fall asleep

If you’re looking for some quick tips that can help you and your children get to sleep fast when excitement is high, then try out these exercises before going to sleep.

progressive muscle relaxation

Progressive muscle relaxation is where you use a combination of breathing techniques with muscle contraction and release to ease stress within your body. By slowly working through the major muscle groups, this technique aims to bring a sense of relaxation. This process involves lying in bed with your eyes closed, and slowly inhaling and exhaling deep breaths. You then tense your facial muscles for 10 seconds, release the tension and take several deep breaths. Repeat this process for other muscle groups throughout your body, from your shoulders down to your feet.

try soothing sleep sounds

Listening to soothing sleep sounds, such as ocean waves, white noise, or relaxing music, leads to lower blood pressure, a slower heart rate and reduced anxiety. These sounds help you destress and fall asleep quicker. Soothing sounds and relaxing music promote better sleep by reducing levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, helping you to feel calmer and more relaxed. Check out our Spotify playlist for the best soothing sounds.

relax with aromatherapy

Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils and is a great aid for relaxation. Popular essential oils that have a positive effect on sleep include lavender, cedarwood, damask rose and peppermint. Add an essential oil diffuser to your bedroom to infuse the space with relaxing scents to help encourage sleep.

lower the temperature

Make sure your space is nice and cool to ensure a good night’s sleep. As you’re getting sleepy and drifting off, your body temperature changes, by dropping a degree or two. It will continue to drop during the first two stages of your sleep cycle, reaching its lowest point and maintaining this temperature for the rest of the night. Before waking, your temperature gradually returns to its normal level, so you wake up feeling refreshed. So, if your bedroom is too warm, you’ll have a hard time falling asleep fast.

techniques to fall asleep

Try these techniques and methods to discover if they work for you, not just on Christmas Eve, but whenever you’re feeling stressed or anxious. It’s important to set time aside as part of your sleep routine for relaxation techniques that work for you and make sure to start your routine early enough, so you get the recommended amount of sleep.

the military method

The military method is a technique designed to help soldiers fall asleep in just two minutes or less. If this doesn’t initially work for you, then you may need to focus more on breathing and muscle relaxation, but after some practice you should fall asleep much faster. Follow these steps to give the military method a try:

1. Get into a comfortable position and relax all areas of your face.

2. Drop your shoulders to release the tension and drop your hands to the side of your body.

3. Start taking deep breaths to relax your chest.

4. Relax your lower half, working your way down from your hips, through your legs and to your feet.

Clear your mind by imagining a calm and relaxing scene. If you find this difficult, try repeating a simple phrase for a few seconds, such as “don’t think” and then hopefully you’ll find yourself drifting off.

the 4-7-8 breathing method

This technique was developed by Dr. Andrew Weil, a simple yet highly effective technique that promotes calm and relaxation, helping you to unwind before bed. This breathing method is based on breath control techniques used in yoga, which aims to relax the nervous system. The steps for this method are as follows:

1. Place the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth.

2. Exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.

3. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose, counting to 4.

4. Hold your breath and count to 7.

5. Open your mouth and exhale, again making the whoosh sound and counting to 8.

6. Repeat these steps a minimum of three more times.

Now you have all the best sleep advice from techniques to exercises and products, you can be sure to relax and wind down on Christmas Eve and prepare for the day ahead. Not just for the festive period, but these methods can be great to use all year round if you're looking for tips on how to get children to sleep on those nights when they may be more excited than usual. If you want to discover more sleep advice, read our helpful guide on creating a better sleep routine.