Let’s talk about the sugar bomb you just inhaled. That plate of cookies you “quality-checked”? Yeah, that’s your enemy now. Blood sugar spikes are a one-way ticket to wired town. Your body is literally processing a cookie-mountain while your mind is trying to drift off. Not a great combo.
Try a tiny snack if you’re hungry—a banana, or a slice of turkey (yeah, the tryptophan thing is real). Skip the hot chocolate with marshmallows. I’m sorry, but you’re better off with a glass of cold water. The hydration helps, and you won’t be jolted awake by a sugar crash at 4 AM.
The Santa Pause: A Weird but Effective Ritual
Here’s where it gets a little silly, but stick with me. You need to create a mental “Santa has already come” moment. Once the stockings are hung and the presents are arranged, say it out loud: “It’s done.” Actually whisper it. This sounds insane, but it signals to your brain that the work is finished. No more “should I move that gift?” loops.
How to Get Kids to Sleep on Christmas Eve | Sunday Woman Magazine
Next, pick a boring book. Not a thriller, not a wish catalog. Something dry. Like a history of pottery or a manual for a toaster you don’t own. The goal isn’t to learn—it’s to make your eyes heavy. I once read three pages about the evolution of door hinges, and I was out cold before I finished the second paragraph. Try it. It’s narcotic.
And for the love of all that is holy, put your phone in the kitchen. Not on your nightstand. Not under your pillow. The kitchen. Scrolling “last minute gift ideas” or checking flight tracker for Santa (yes, there are apps for that) is the enemy. The blue light is bad, but the adrenaline of seeing an “arriving” notification? That’s a twin-set of sleep sabotage. Banish it.
