College is crazy. Your schedule is full, you have loads of homework and tests to study for, may have a job, and somehow you have to find time for a life outside of the madness. So what is the first thing to go to make room for everything else? SLEEP. November is National Sleep Comfort Month, and what better way to kick off the month then some tips to get some quality zzz’s!
First things first, get yourself into a (relatively) consistent routine; this includes meal times, bedtime, and rising time. This will help you feel tired at the appropriate time, and be more alert after waking. When going to bed, be sure to shut out the lights, or at least dim them, as our body’s clock picks up on environmental cues such as darkness=time to sleep. Also, shut off the cellphone! I know it’s difficult to leave the virtual world, but studies have shown that even the little bit of light emitting from your cell can be enough to trigger the cue for waking up. Also, having it buzz throughout the night can disrupt your sleep, and is honestly just annoying. Other ways you can get to sleep faster, avoid caffeine after 3pm, making sure that your room is nice and quiet, and keep a journal/notebook by your bedside for all of those last minute got-to-remember-this thoughts.
Finding time for everything is difficult, especially in college, but with routine and keeping an overall healthy diet and exercise program, it is possible! But for all those nights where you truly NEED to pull an all-nighter, remember to repay your body with a few naps before that night; 20 min is the prime amount of time for a solid nap that will refresh you, but not leave you feeling groggy.