The Winter Reset: How to Sleep Better Between Christmas and New Year

The days between Christmas and New Year feel different. The pace slows. The calendar clears. And for the first time in weeks, there is space to rest.

Yet paradoxically, sleep often feels harder during this period. Late nights, disrupted routines, rich food, central heating, and constant stimulation can leave us feeling exhausted but strangely wired. You may find yourself waking more often, sleeping lightly, or struggling to fall asleep at all.

This in-between week is not about fixing sleep perfectly. It is about gently resetting. Working with winter rather than against it. Creating the conditions for deeper, more restorative rest that carries you into the new year feeling grounded, not depleted.

At Ethical Bedding, we believe sleep is a form of self-care and winter is the season that asks us to take it seriously. Here is how to reset your sleep naturally, calmly, and sustainably in the days after Christmas.

Why Sleep Often Feels Disrupted After Christmas

Even if you have taken time off, your body may not feel rested yet. There are a few simple reasons why.

First, routine disappears. Bedtimes drift later, mornings start slower, and the consistent cues your circadian rhythm relies on become blurred.

Second, stimulation increases. Even joyful overstimulation counts. Socialising, screens, travel, noise, and indulgent meals all keep the nervous system in a more alert state.

Third, winter environments are challenging for sleep. Central heating dries the air and overheats bedrooms, while darker days reduce natural light exposure, which can delay melatonin production.

None of this is a failure of discipline. It is biology. And biology responds best to gentle correction, not force.

Winter Is a Season for Rest, Not Resistance

Modern culture treats sleep disruption as something to power through. Winter biology tells a different story.

Shorter days naturally signal the body to slow down. Research shows that melatonin production increases during darker months, increasing the body’s drive for rest. Fighting this can lead to fragmented sleep and daytime fatigue.

Instead of trying to maintain summer-level energy, winter sleep improves when we lean into seasonal cues:

• Earlier evenings

• Softer lighting

• Slower wind-down routines

• A bedroom environment that supports warmth without overheating

This is the foundation of a winter reset.

Reset Your Sleep Rhythm Gently, Not Dramatically

You do not need to overhaul your schedule overnight. In fact, abrupt changes can make sleep worse.

Instead, aim for small, consistent adjustments between Christmas and New Year.

Try:

• Shifting bedtime earlier by 15–20 minutes every few nights

• Waking at roughly the same time each day, even if mornings are slow

• Getting outside within an hour of waking to expose your eyes to natural light, even on cloudy days
  
  

This light exposure is one of the most powerful signals for resetting your circadian rhythm in winter.

If you want to understand more about how light, temperature, and environment influence rest, our article The Science of Sleep: How Bedding Affects Your Sleep Quality explores this in more depth.

The Role of Temperature in Winter Sleep Quality

One of the most overlooked winter sleep disruptors is overheating.

While it feels intuitive to make the bedroom as warm as possible, sleep quality actually improves when the body can cool slightly at night. Studies consistently show that the ideal sleep temperature is around 16–18°C.

Central heating often pushes bedrooms far above this, leading to night sweats, restlessness, and lighter sleep stages.

To reset your winter sleep:

• Lower the thermostat at night

• Ventilate the bedroom briefly before bed

• Use breathable bedding layers instead of heavy, heat-trapping materials
  
  

A naturally breathable duvet made from plant-based fibres can help regulate temperature without sacrificing comfort. Our Bamboo Duvet is designed to trap warmth while allowing excess heat and moisture to escape, making it especially suited to fluctuating winter nights.

Why Your Bedding Matters More in Winter

We tend to think of bedding as a comfort choice. In winter, it becomes a sleep quality tool.

As heating dries indoor air, skin becomes more sensitive and dehydration increases overnight. Rough or synthetic fabrics can exacerbate irritation, itchiness, and micro-awakenings you may not consciously remember.

Natural fibres help in three key ways:

• They regulate temperature more effectively

• They allow better airflow and moisture control

• They feel softer and calmer against winter-sensitive skin
  
  

Organic cotton, eucalyptus, and bamboo fibres support the body’s natural overnight repair processes, rather than disrupting them.

If you are interested in the longevity and performance of natural materials, Why Organic Bedding Lasts Longer (and How to Care for It) offers a helpful deeper dive.

Create a Winter Wind-Down That Signals Safety

Sleep does not begin when you close your eyes. It begins when your nervous system feels safe enough to switch off.

During the festive period, this signalling often gets lost. Boxing Day is the perfect time to reintroduce it.

A winter-appropriate wind-down might include:

• Dimming lights after sunset

• Switching from overhead lighting to lamps

• Taking a warm shower or bath an hour before bed

• Reading or listening to calming audio instead of scrolling
  
  

These rituals are not indulgent. They are cues. Over time, they teach the body that night equals rest.

The Bedroom as a Winter Sanctuary

The days after Christmas are an ideal moment to reset your bedroom environment.

Take a few minutes to:

• Remove visual clutter that has accumulated over the holidays

• Wash bedding to create a sensory reset

• Adjust layers so the bed feels inviting but not heavy
  
  

A breathable mattress layer can also make a noticeable difference. A natural mattress topper like Ethical Bedding’s CloudTop™ Mattress Topper helps regulate temperature, adds gentle pressure relief, and improves sleep comfort without replacing your mattress, making it an easy winter upgrade rather than a dramatic change.

CloudTop™ Mattress Topper

Eat for Sleep, Not Against It

Winter food is comforting, but heavy evening meals can disrupt sleep by raising core body temperature and increasing nighttime awakenings.

You do not need to restrict. Simply shift timing and balance:

• Eat larger meals earlier in the evening

• Keep late-night snacks lighter and warming, such as oats or herbal teas

• Stay hydrated, as heated indoor air increases water loss overnight
  
  

These small changes can significantly reduce night waking and restless sleep.

Use the Quiet of Boxing Day Intentionally

Boxing Day is often quieter than expected. This is its gift.

Instead of filling the space, allow it to restore you. Nap lightly if needed. Go to bed earlier without guilt. Let the nervous system catch up.

Deep rest during this week does more than relieve fatigue. It sets the tone for January. When sleep is supported now, resolutions feel less forced and energy returns more naturally.

A Reset, Not a Resolution

The winter reset is not about optimisation. It is about alignment.

When sleep works with the season rather than against it, you wake feeling steadier, warmer, and more resilient. And when your sleep environment supports that process, rest becomes something you fall into rather than chase.

If you are looking to improve your winter sleep, start with the basics: light, temperature, rhythm, and the materials closest to your skin. The days between Christmas and New Year offer a rare pause. Use it well.

Better sleep does not begin in January. It begins now. Shop our collection for better sleep here.