The Christmas Sleep Report
Words by Emma Hughes
November 18, 2025
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8m
We always hear about how important sleep is, as it takes up around one-third of our lives on average, and hugely impacts how we feel when we wake up the next day. Sometimes, though, it can feel like a struggle to stay on top of how much rest we’re getting, especially during busy times like the festive season.
We conducted a survey to find out how many Brits struggle with their sleep during Christmas, and discovered that a whopping 80% find it challenging to get enough shut-eye over the holidays. This can have a profound impact on physical health, appearance, and overall mood.
So, how can we make sure we stay merry over Christmas with a better sleep schedule? By running through our survey findings and speaking to experts, we’ll help you learn more about how to keep well-rested while celebrating with your family.
Read on to find out how you can get your 40 winks this winter:
How many of us are missing out on sleep over Christmas?
With time off work, celebrations with family, and plenty of festive cheer, it should be easy to get enough sleep over Christmas. However, as previously mentioned, as many as four in five of us notice a change in our sleeping habits during the festive period.
More than a quarter of those we spoke to (26%) say that they go to sleep later than usual over the holidays, with around one in five (17%) saying they wake up more often during the night. Additionally, around one in ten participants (11%) report feeling tired even after sleeping.
Typically, a break from our jobs should help us relax, but only 7% of our respondents said that their sleep improved at Christmas when compared to the rest of the year.
Breaking this down a bit further, our data also suggests that women are more likely than men to have their sleep schedules disrupted by the holidays, with more than one in five women (21%) saying they found it hard to sleep over the festive period due to either stress, excitement, or childcare duties – in contrast, just 13% of male said they had trouble sleeping at Christmas.
Which cities struggle to sleep the most at Christmas?
The worst-affected city by seasonal sleep issues is Glasgow, with nearly a quarter of its residents (23%) reporting a decline in their sleep over the holiday period. Manchester ranks closely behind in second place, with 22% of residents struggling with sleep, while London, Bristol, and Norwich all tie for third.
Sheffield is the city that sees the least change in its sleeping habits during winter, as more than half of our respondents from the area (56%) say their schedules stay the same. Leeds and Cardiff followed in joint-second, with 49% each.
While some cities fall behind on sleep, Bristol is the most likely area to see improvements during the time off work, as 16% report feeling better rested thanks to their holiday. However, it’s also the city where the most residents report later bedtimes, with 38% saying they stay awake for longer.
What are the causes of our Christmas sleep woes?
We all celebrate Christmas in different ways (or not at all), so there are a wide variety of factors that can impact our sleep during the holiday season. One of the most common reasons for sleep struggles is overeating, with almost a quarter of our survey respondents (24%) saying that heavy festive food stops them from getting enough rest.
Regionally, Manchester is the most prone to overeating, with 43% of residents listing it as their main source of seasonal sleep stress.
Ana Carolina Gonclaves, Pharmacist at pharmica.co.uk, says that the nutrition of Christmas food is one of the main reasons it affects our sleep:
“People often eat richer, higher-fat, and higher-sugar foods, and much more of them. These habits can interfere with digestion and delay sleep onset.
Drinking alcohol can also reduce sleep quality because it reduces the amount of time we spend in deep REM sleep, which is what the body needs to repair itself and maintain energy levels during the day.
Almost half of our survey participants (46%) list interruptions from friends and family as the primary factor affecting their sleep. Stress from hosting, noisy households, and excitable children interrupting lie-ins all contribute to their troubles.
“Over Christmas, we also experience unusual social stressors, like spending time with extended family who we might not see for the rest of the year,” Ana says. “Combining this with lots of planning and organising creates stressful situations for many people.”
Christmas décor can also lead to a lack of sleep, with 12% of those we spoke to saying they stay up late wrapping gifts or decorating the house. Just under one in twenty respondents (4%) say that the bright lights and overstimulating colours of the seasonal decorations affect their quality of rest.
The consequences of poor sleep can impact our enjoyment of the holiday season, as 86% of people report that their festive plans are disrupted by their sleep struggles. The most common negative consequences of a lack of sleep during winter are anxiety and stress (21%), while others report social isolation (18%), a lack of Christmas cheer (16%), and irritability (11%).
Ana says that the blue light emitted by LEDs in Christmas decorations “can suppress melatonin production and delay sleep if they’re left on late into the evening”. She also notes that festive décor only has a minor impact on sleep for many of us, but it can have a stronger effect when it’s kept in our bedrooms.
How to get a good night’s sleep this winter
Almost three-quarters of us plan to improve our sleep quality as part of a New Year’s resolution (70%), but only 5% plan to upgrade their bedroom to support this goal. Women seem to prioritise their sleep over men as part of their lifestyle changes, with mental health and physical appearance both ranking as the most common motivators (around 20%).
So, how can we curate a bedroom that encourages better sleep? We spoke to Magdalena Giersinska, our Head of Product and Displays for Barker and Stonehouse, to get some advice on improving our space to improve our rest at Christmas.
Here are some of her biggest recommendations:
Find your ideal bed frame and mattress
There are plenty of options available on the market when it comes to customising your bed. Whether you choose a classic design with wooden slats, an ottoman frame for extra storage, or a divan for firmer support, it’s essential to consider your options and find furniture that suits your preferences.
Your mattress is also crucial for helping you get a good night's rest. With various materials and firmness ratings available, it’s a matter of finding your ideal match. Be sure to try different options to find a style that suits your sleeping habits.
Make sure your space has storage
If your bedroom is low on space, you may find clutter piling up around your room, making it less comfortable and detracting from your design. Try keeping loose items out of sight with storage solutions that suit your space, such as choosing furniture with drawers or building units like cupboards and wardrobes directly into your walls.
Avoid habits that affect your sleep
We’ve spoken about how blue lights from festive LEDs can interrupt your sleep, but your phone screen emits the same light in massive amounts. That’s why many experts recommend switching devices off before you sleep, letting you drift off without any worries.
Next time you feel yourself reaching for your phone to doomscroll in bed, try swapping it for a spot of light reading, or spend your time making a soothing hot drink before you sleep.
Looking for bedroom furniture that can stand the test of time and offer a great night’s sleep? Trust Barker and Stonehouse to provide stylish, sturdy bed frames, cosy mattresses, and more! Start browsing our collection today to find the perfect additions to your room.