Taking a Christmas vacation? This is what I do before I leave to fall asleep fast when I return

Have you ever come home from Christmas vacation, eager to jump into the comforting familiarity of your own bed? Yeah, I know the feeling, too.

The truth is there really is nothing like the comfort of your own bed (a 2025 survey found that 61% of adults admit they sleep worse away from home for Christmas), and this no-place-like-home comfort can help you catch up on sleeper after the restless festive season.

To get enough rest in the New Year, however, you'll need to focus on your sleep hygiene and maintain a consistent sleep schedule — and there's an easy way to jump straight into doing both after your visit.

So, here's what I do before travelling to see my family for the holidays to fall straight back into sleep as soon as I return. Plus, here's what to do if you've already left...

The hack I swear by for great sleep after returning from Christmas vacation

If you're visiting family over the holidays or going on Christmas vacation, it's likely that you'll start missing the support of your own mattress or the tranquility of your own bedroom towards the end of the trip.

Throw in how tired travelling home can make you, and it's likely that the first thing you'll want to do when you return is take a nap.

But picture this: You open the door to your home, you throw down you bags and leave the luggage in the hallway, you yank off your boots, and run to your bed so you can finally lie down.

But then you remember that your sheets are grubby, or the bed has been stripped and the bedding is still in the laundry hamper. Plus, there are thing strewn all over the floor from when you were rummaging through your wardrobe for that item you almost forgot.

Not a very relaxing sleep environment.

So, this is what I always do before I leave: When I get up in the morning, as soon as I get out of bed, I strip the bed and put the bedding right in the laundry hamper. Why do I do it straight away? Well, it's checked off my to-do list already, and a bed that's been stripped is less tempting to crawl back into.

Next, I put fresh bedding on, so my bed is freshly made. And what does that mean? It means that when I come home from vacation, I have clean, fresh sheets that are ready for sleep. I then won't have to worry about changing and making my bed before my before my bedtime, potentially delaying my bedtime and derailing my sleep schedule.

I also declutter my room the best I can before I leave, making sure any last minute rummaging is cleared up, as decluttering can help you sleep better.

What to do if you've already left for Christmas vacation

Okay, so you've already said goodbye to your bedroom and you're on the move, but you've just realised you've left your bedroom in disarray. Don't worry, here's what you do:

• Strip your bed as soon as you get home, before unpacking.
• Make the bed with fresh, clean sheets. If your sheets are currently in the laundry hamper, put them straight in the washing machine. While waiting for your sheets to dry (the best dehumidifiers are great for drying sheets quickly), you can move on to the next step.
• Tidy your room. This isn't a big Marie Kondo-style decluttering (save that for when you have more energy), it's just about making your bedroom look presentable and less overwhelming.
• Unpack everything you need for sleep and the next morning. This means that when it's time for bed, you're ready to perform your nighttime routine and won't have to lie in bed stressed about what you need to do int the morning.

3 other things to do for better sleep when the holiday season is over

1. De-clutter

A cluttered room can have a negative effect on sleep, so making some time in the new year for a decluttering session can help. To do this, you can take a look at some of the best ways to declutter your sleep space, and find the one that's right for you.

Clutter means more dust and other allergens, and allergens can hinder sleep. To keep your room free of sleep-disrupting allergens, combat winter dust with simple changes like vacuuming regularly.

2. Try Dry January

Research shows that alcohol reduces the production of sleepy hormone melatonin, so trying Dry January and swapping night caps for sleep-inducing drinks can kick off 2026 with a healthier sleep schedule.

Sleep Features Editor Lauren Jeffries swears by Dry January for better sleep in the New Year, recommending it as a way to reduce nighttime anxiety and get more quality sleep.

3. Create a bedtime routine

Creating a nighttime routine can help you fall asleep fast and reduce anxiety. A good nighttime routine that's performed consistently ever night can help your brain to build an association with a certain sequence of actions or smells with sleep.

A night-time routine should include relaxing activities, such as reading your favorite book (reading before bed can reduce stress by 68%) or creating a to-list for the next day.