Does Keeping a Steady Sleep Schedule on Vacation Pay Off?

During the New Year break, I tested a popular sleep tip: keep the same wake-up and bedtimes even when you’re on vacation. Holidays often pull me into late nights and late mornings, which makes returning to work feel rough. Here’s what happened when I tried to stay consistent on a nine‑day mountain trip.

Why I decided to experiment with a routine

My usual rhythm falls apart during holidays. In normal life I fall asleep before midnight and wake around eight in the morning. On vacation I tend to sleep later, from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., which leaves me tired and moody when it’s time to return to work.

I traced the break to long, lazily spent days in bed, cold weather, and evenings spent with friends that push bedtimes later. I planned an active holiday with a clear routine to see if it could keep me on track.

We invited friends and headed to the mountains for a nine‑day snowboarding trip. I was still learning, so those long days on the slopes were challenging but rewarding.

How I managed to keep sleep and wake times during the vacation

1. Every day, we woke up before eight to have breakfast, stretch, and be on the slopes when the lifts opened.
2. Evenings were tiring, and I would drift toward nine o’clock sleep, unless a late game with friends kept me up. On New Year’s Eve we stayed out past midnight, but we still had breakfast around 10:30 the next morning.

To make the routine work, I surrounded myself with reminders that holidays aren’t a reason to sleep half the day. Breakfast ends at 10:00, and if I woke late, I still aimed to stay active on the slopes and in the day’s plans. My partner helped by prioritizing an early morning routine, making it easier for both of us to enjoy the best views and meals.

I allowed New Year to bend the rule once, going to bed around 4 a.m. after celebrating, but we still aimed to start the day with breakfast by 10:30.

Another agreement: if fatigue hit and I wanted to skip a ski day, I would still join breakfast and take a nap after lunch if needed. I napped only once, on January 1, and slept earlier that night after a relaxing sauna session.

How the steady schedule affected my well-being

The routine produced clear benefits. Sleep felt easier and deeper, and I woke up refreshed, sometimes dreaming about the slopes as my body processed the new movements.

1. Sleep quality improved overall; I fell asleep with less effort and woke feeling rested, with occasional on-slope dreams that reflected my practice.
2. Daytime energy stayed high, helping me handle strenuous and cold-weather workouts without a sudden crash.
3. Meal timing stayed stable as well; I had breakfast at the same time, ate lunch on the slope, and didn’t feel overly hungry before bed.
4. I could recognize when rest was needed, which helped me choose to sleep earlier when necessary.
5. Returning to work after the trip was smoother, with less drama about getting up and resuming tasks.

What was the hardest part

With the routine in place, the main challenge came in the last couple of days after returning home. My partner left for work in the morning, and I wanted to linger in bed. Activity dropped, and it became harder to fall asleep in the evening.

On the bright side, the entire holiday was active and physically healthy, which supported my mood. I sometimes felt a pinch of envy for friends who slept all day and lounged, but I knew the routine helped me restart work more easily.

Does this sleep hack actually work?

In my experience, yes, to a degree. I wear a smartwatch that tracks sleep quality, stress, and energy, and the numbers aligned with how I felt. While not a perfect scientific measure, the device supported my sense that a consistent schedule boosts daytime performance and mood.

Ultimately, the watch showed high sleep quality during the trip and suggested more recovery time between workouts—advice I didn’t always follow, which may have affected my mood. Still, I felt rested and alert overall, reinforcing the value of consistency.

If you want to keep your schedule on vacation, choose active activities with a fixed breakfast and bedtime, and enlist the support of loved ones. That teamwork was crucial for me.

How did you spend your holidays and what would you change about your routine?

Expert comment

Expert comment: Sleep science shows that regular bed and wake times help align your circadian rhythm, boosting daytime alertness and mood. Short, planned naps can help, but consistency matters most for recovery.

Short summary

The experiment found that maintaining a steady sleep-wake schedule on vacation can improve sleep quality, energy, and mood. Active days with a consistent routine also ease the transition back to work. Wearable data supported the personal experience, reinforcing the value of consistency.

Key insight: Consistency over chaos — keeping a regular sleep schedule during time off helps you feel better and return to work more smoothly.