Why You Can’t Sleep Before A Holiday (& What To Do About It)

We’ve all been there: the alarm is set for an ungodly hour, you’re all tucked up in bed, and you just can’t get to sleep. Whether you’re tossing and turning, running through your packing list or constantly checking the clock to ensure you haven’t missed that all important wakeup call, struggling to sleep before a holiday is a painful experience suffered by many. But why? We asked Sleep Expert Martin Seely why this happens, plus how to fix it – and how to sleep better regardless.

Why Can’t I Sleep The Night Before A Holiday?

‘The night before an anticipated event, such as a holiday, your body is able to detect a change in your routine is pending. This causes your body to naturally increase its production of the stress hormone,’ explains sleep expert Martin Seeley. ‘This feeling is exacerbated if you’re already naturally worried about travelling, waking up early or forgetting something, keeping you feeling more stressed and awake.’

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How To Sleep Better Before A Holiday

Minimise Cortisol

‘Knowing your key travel documents are ready, your bags are more or less packed and any overdue chores are completed can go a long way in aiding a good night’s sleep,’ Martin advises. ‘If you go to bed with pending tasks that will take extra time in the morning, then you may feel stressed or anxious that they either won’t get done in time or will be forgotten.’

If some things must wait until the morning, Martin advises you write a dedicated list of the key items you need and any household chores you need to check, so you don’t have to worry about missing anything in the morning.

Wind Down

The night before you go on holiday, make sure you partake in good bedtime habits, such as avoiding spending too much time on your devices, have a warm bath, listen to gentle music and try some breathing exercises to help you relax, Martin suggests. ‘Try doing some gentle exercises, such as yoga or even just basic stretches which helps relax your body and supports a better night’s sleep,’ Martin recommends. This is good advice year-round, but especially the night before a trip.

Optimal Environment

‘An optimum bedroom is cool, quiet, dark and ideally clutter-free, although sometimes the latter can be unavoidable before a big trip,’ Martin explains. ‘A too warm or bright and loud bedroom can confuse your body and keep you awake rather than help you drift off to sleep.’

Don’t Pull An All-Nighter 

Although it can be tempting to stay up all night in anticipation of an early flight, this is an absolute no-no. ‘Aside from feeling tired, staying up all night can make you feel groggy and inattentive, which are feelings you don’t want to deal with when travelling,’ Martin warns. ‘Remember that the quality of sleep is more important than the quantity, so even if you don’t manage to get a full eight hours a few will help.’

How To Help Kids Sleep Better Before A Holiday

The best way to help your children sleep better before a trip is to stay as close to their usual routine as possible, Martin says. ‘It’s advisable to keep your children busy and active during the day, so they’re more likely to fall asleep in the evening,’ he explains. ‘This is especially important if you know you’ll be waking your kids up earlier than usual, to get to the airport for example, so they’ll still get a good amount of sleep and won’t feel groggy the next morning.’