Over the break, I took up a job that required me to wake up at 4 a.m. every morning. Within the first few days, I realized that my typical 2 a.m. bedtime was not going to cut it anymore; I was beyond exhausted. I decided it was time to make a change. I reset my sleep schedule and honestly, I saw such a difference in my quality of life (it sounds dramatic, but it’s true!). Now that I’m back on campus for the spring semester, my new sleeping pattern has already made these first two weeks much more enjoyable. If you’re curious how I managed to make this change, or if you’re wondering about the benefits I’ve experienced, look no further than below.
When it came time to officially change my bedtime over break, I adopted a sort of no-nonsense policy. I decided that I would not allow myself to stay up any later than 10:30 p.m. Anything I wanted to get done after work, I had to get done before then. I immediately noticed that this plan made me more productive; I had to actually shut off the television, put down my phone, and start to get ready for bed hours before this 10:30 p.m. deadline. I started using my time a lot more wisely, which involved incorporating more time for self-care. Since my job was very draining, focusing on myself was much needed and helped me feel less burnt out. Every night, I felt like a sweet little grandma sitting in my bed with my cat and my cup of tea. I’m definitely in my hot girl era.
When I arrived back on campus, I realized that my bedtime didn’t need to be quite so early anymore, since my earliest class starts at 10 a.m. (instead of, you know, 4 a.m.). I decided that on weekdays, I would aim to be in my bed, head on my pillow, by midnight at the latest. I figured this would give me ample time to finish homework or go to any club meetings after class if need be. I soon realized, though, just how much this schedule would benefit me in the long run. There’s a huge difference when I wake up for class now; I wake up naturally before my alarms and feel a lot less groggy while I’m getting ready. Throughout the day, I have a lot more energy and don’t have the overwhelming desire to go back to my dorm to nap (which was a daily struggle for me last semester). I actually have time to eat a proper breakfast in the morning, and I’m less likely to skip meals (which was another habit of mine). My days are so much more productive since I know I can’t stay up until 2 a.m. doing homework anymore, so I’m more motivated to get it done in between classes. By about 8 p.m., I actually feel ready to wind down for the night. Most nights, I’m in bed way before midnight. My body knows when to wake up, when to be focused, and when to be done for the day. It doesn’t feel like I’m dragging my body through the day anymore. Instead, my body and I are working together to get things done. It’s worked wonders for my mental health and my self-confidence, too.
I’ve always known that getting enough sleep is important, but I really underestimated the impact it would have on my life. Now that I’ve finally made sleep a priority, it really feels like I’ve prioritized myself. I’m more positive, more energetic, and most importantly, I’m more in sync with my body. Giving your body what it needs actually, makes a huge difference… who knew?
If you’re feeling that second-semester slump already, I highly recommend revamping your sleep schedule. Even just a couple of extra hours of shut-eye could be the difference between a good day and a great one.
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