I’ve never really had a hard time falling asleep until the pandemic hit. Most nights I sleep for 7-8 hours, but during the pandemic, my sleep schedule consisted of me sleeping at 4am and waking up at 7 or 8am. But with the world reopening up again, things are picking up its pace and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed about school, life, and just about everything. Here are some of my personal experiences and tips for managing sleep anxiety as a college student.
Watch your favorite show/movie
Going to sleep anxious is likely going to keep you up for the night. Sometimes after a long day, it’s good to unwind with your favorite show or movie that brings you joy and comfort. I find that watching Korean dramas before bed helps me escape from stress, and helps me fall asleep more quickly.
Listen to a podcast
I’m a huge fan of listening to conversational podcasts because they’re so entertaining and engaging that you feel as if you are also part of the conversation itself. During the pandemic, podcasts offered a sense of comfort when it was difficult to meet people and socialize in groups. It definitely helped with feelings of loneliness and anxiety during the pandemic, but has even alleviated sleep anxiety since podcasts bring an instant sense of community and intimacy.
Consider journaling
Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts down on paper and helps to alleviate anxiety and concerns. It’s not a good idea to contain all your worries with you to bed, so journaling is a healthy way to share our thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
Overall, college is a hectic place, sometimes it feels like everything keeps moving forward while we’re the only ones behind, but it’s important to take care of our mental well-being, and to let ourselves experience small joys in life that help us feel happy.