I know sleeping by 10 p.m. is a foreign statement for most college students when “hustle culture” is all the rage. If you’re not pulling all-nighters, downing 3 cups of coffee, and working yourself to the bone, you’re not doing college right. My friends have always made fun of me for sleeping by 10 p.m. every night. They call me a grandma and think I am boring. Obviously, I know it’s a joke, but there is something interesting to be noticed about how people who sleep early are viewed, especially in college. Here are 4 benefits to sleeping by 10 p.m. every night:
- GETTING A HEAD START ON YOUR DAY
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It is no surprise that the earlier you sleep, the earlier you are able to wake up. I don’t know about you, but my morning brain is 100 times sharper than my nighttime brain. I can think more clearly, rationalize decisions better and that early morning air just feels extra crisp and fresh. The amount of focus I have in the morning is exponentially higher than I do at night when I am sleep-deprived and cramming information.
- MaximiZIng daylight
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I can’t be the only one whose mood is affected by the sun. Think about it: gloomy, dark days lead to you feeling more sluggish, while sunny, bright days lead to you wanting to go out and do things with your day. Natural sunlight is a huge factor in productivity and energy. Going to sleep by 10 p.m. allows you to wake up earlier to maximize the amount of sunlight you get in your day.
Photo by Paravi Das - CONSISTENT SLEEP SCHEDULE
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This is probably unheard of to most college students, though it is probably one of the most important and determining factors on how your day is going to go. If you have a poor night’s sleep, that energy is going to carry on to the rest of your day. Setting a bedtime of 10 p.m. not only will ensure a stable sleeping schedule, but it will also improve many aspects of your physiological and psychological self. Personally, I found that my skin, mood, energy levels, digestion and more have benefitted greatly from this change.
- PREVENTING BURNOUT
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It is so important to establish a healthy work-life balance early on in your life. To not only understand your own limits physically and mentally but also put those limits first can set you up for success in your future career. It will allow you to understand your own boundaries and establish a balance of working and resting. This will then improve the quality and longevity of your work, while also making your work something you are excited to do rather than a burden in your days.
In an environment where overworking yourself is idealized, glamorized and praised, it is important that we are mindful of what we are really trying to prove. Does sleeping later equate to working harder? Does it make you “cooler?” There is nothing glamorous about overworking yourself, prioritizing work over sleep, or pushing your body past its own limits. In a world where your work is seemingly more valuable than your health, make sure that you are the one to put yourself first in all aspects of your life.