Sacrificing Sleep During the Holiday Season

From end-of-year work commitments and shopping to entertaining and attending gatherings with family and friends, Americans find themselves racing against the clock to get enough sleep during the busy holiday season. In fact, in a survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 55% of people reported they are extremely or somewhat tired during the holidays.

“The holiday season can be joyous, but also stressful, and leads many people to sacrifice sleep as other obligations mount,” said Dr. David Kuhlmann, sleep physician and AASM spokesperson. “No matter how busy you are, getting the right amount of sleep is important for both physical and mental health, and being well rested will help you enjoy the holiday season even more.”

Unfortunately, the exhausted feeling persists into the new year, as 46% of survey respondents reported feeling tired on New Year’s Day, and 42% admitted to feeling tired on the first day back to work in January.

“It’s recommended that people stick to their normal sleep routine throughout December and January so that everyone can start the year with healthy sleep habits in place,” said Dr. Kuhlmann.

Here are a few tips from the AASM to make this holiday season a little less tiring:

• Get the recommended hours of sleep: Most adults should sleep seven or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

• Avoid excess food intake: Holiday feasts can be tempting, but eating large amounts of food just before bedtime can disrupt your sleep.

• Limit caffeine and alcohol late at night: Avoid stimulants like caffeine late at night, as they will make it harder to fall asleep. You should also avoid alcohol before bedtime because it can disrupt your sleep during the night.
• Keep to your routine: Stick to a nightly routine to help unwind before bed, even if your daytime and evening activities are different than normal.

View 2024 AASM Sleep Prioritization Survey results in the AASM newsroom.  

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About the Survey   

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine commissioned an online survey of 2,006 adults in the U.S. The overall margin of error fell within +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between May 16-24, 2024. Atomik Research is an independent market research agency.  

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine     

Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country (aasm.org).