Sleep Deprived? Give These Tips a Try!
Sleep is possibly one of the top things that students lack the most, but at the same time want the most.
We wake up early to study, then stay up late to finish a paper. Next thing you know, it just becomes a seemingly endless cycle of getting up early and staying up late for something and then suddenly you can’t stay awake in class anymore.
Or maybe you’re not like that.
Maybe you do truly try to give yourself enough time to sleep, but for some reason, you still feel exhausted constantly.
Basically, sleep is hard.
Hard to manage, hard to get, and hard to be truly restful.
So I’ve done a little research for you all, and here are what I’ve found to be the most frequently recommended and successfully tested sleeping tips.
1.) Consistent Bedtime & Wake-Up Time
Out of all the suggestions I saw online, this was definitely the suggestion I saw the most!
It puts your body on a schedule so that your sleep is significantly more restful. I know this seems difficult, especially with the variance of activities at college, but do your best!
You may need to manage your time better so you don’t run into the possibility of having to get up earlier or stay up later for school work; but having a more rested mind will help you do better in classes in the first place!
Not to mention, managing your time well is always a benefit, and will also help you do better in your classes.
2.) Avoid Bright Light
A couple of hours before you go to bed, it will benefit your body A LOT if you stay away from bright lights.
Most people have a lamp in their room, so turn that main blaring light off and flip a lamp on during the evening hours. This helps your body realize it’s night time and prepares your brain for sleep.
The no-bright-lights rule applies for your phone and computer screens, too!
Now I know what you’re thinking, that’s impossible to avoid those lights. Well, it’s a certain type of light called “blue light” coming from those devices that makes them detrimental to sleep.
But guess what? As with most things, there’s an app for that. So if you just can’t avoid your devices before bed, download one of those apps to decrease the effects on your sleep.
3.) Caffeine Consumption
College students practically live off of coffee, I know that. But drinking coffee at certain times may be what is causing you to get less rest.
Now, coffee is TOTALLY fine during the morning and some afternoon hours. I’m not saying you need to quit coffee completely, I realize that would be actually impossible for many of you. 😉
Caffeine can stay in your system for 6–8 hours, though. So once you hit 3–4 p.m., it may be a good idea to stay away from it as it could still be affecting your nervous system and keeping you energized.
Now, this tip varies based on the person. I know some people who can drink coffee at 8 p.m., and it doesn’t affect their sleep one bit. If you're having trouble sleeping, though, and can’t seem to figure out why . . . this may be it.
4.) Naps
You’re probably thinking at this point that I’m telling you to cut all the things you love most. Don’t worry!
The thing that matters most here is the length of your naps.
Power naps can be very beneficial to give you extra energy throughout the day. But once they get over 30 minutes long, they can start messing with your sleep schedule.
So plan a power nap or maybe two if you really need it throughout the day, but keep it at or below that 30-minute mark so you can still get a full night's rest. Like with caffeine, naps affect sleep schedules differently, so test it out for yourself, and see if it helps.
5.) Exercise
Some days at college, all the activity we get is through walking from place to place. We get plenty of mental workouts here at school, but we also need physical workouts for great sleep.
I know your time is limited, but even a little extra physical activity will help your body sleep better.
Some of these tips may seem difficult, but sleep is important! It affects our performance in everything throughout the day. So if you’re struggling with your sleep, give these tips a shot. It may help more than you think.
Sweet dreams!
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