“That can make it hard to get good sleep as well, so that’s just a perfect storm.”Dr Michael Hlavac, respiratory and sleep physician and clinical director of Christchurch Hospital’s Integrated Respiratory Service, says sleep can be “erratic” during the holidays. “We’re also, quite often, more active, so that physical activity is really good for sleep. Photo / 123RFWhy good sleep habits are importantMaintaining good sleep over holidays and long weekends can help us get back into a good routine for work and school - and it’s not too late to start. “Having a good mindset towards sleep, or the way we think about sleep, can actually be really helpful,” O’Keeffe says. So, it’s just about being a bit mindful of those things as well.”Hlavac says practising good sleep hygiene - that is, “habits and routines around sleep” - will help.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 23, 2026 04:33 UTC