• Pace yourself to avoid late nights filled with last-minute preparations.
• Avoid eating large meals near bedtime.
• Avoid wrapping gifts or writing cards in bed; reserve your bed for sleep.
• Be able to relax at bedtime by setting aside time during the day to deal with holiday stress.
• Wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends and days off from work.
• If you need a boost, take a short 20-minute nap in the early afternoon.
• Reduce sleep problems related to seasonal affective disorder by getting more sunlight during the short winter days; sit near a window or take a lunchtime walk outside.
• Avoid driving when you are sleepy.
• Days before a long flight, gradually adjust your sleep schedule to prepare for the new time zone.

Updated Dec. 19, 2008