Zzz’s Get Degrees

Sleep, it seems like something so basic yet most of us don’t really know how to go about it. “Get eight hours of sleep every night” is something we all hear. I know that I for one do not do this. However, there is some truth to these words. Getting eight hours of sleep is crucial for proper development and for productivity during the day.  With finals coming up and projects being due it is important that college students are getting the proper amounts of sleep since some benefits of sleep include the ability to “think more clearly and do better at work” (ODPHP, 2018). This can be a critical aspect when thinking about all the tests, quizzes, and exams that require a student’s full attention and awareness. Furthermore, with proper sleep one is less likely to get sick (ODPHP, 2018). Waking up for an 8 a.m. while feeling under the weather would be less than ideal.

Achieving an adequate amount of sleep is all in how a person approaches bedtime. The human body has a biological clock. Maintaining a consistent circadian rhythm allows an individual to wake up feeling refreshed and at the end of the night to feel tired and ready for bed. Getting into a routine can be difficult, especially for college students who may be dealing with stress or anxiety. The classroom can create a stressful environment having to manage a constant list of assignments, preparing for exams, writing essays, or trying to just digest the content.  One way to help manage this stress is to make your bedroom associated with non-stressful thoughts. Try setting up your room to be dark, quiet, or relaxing to help you cultivate a healthy sleep life or schedule. This can mean putting the phone away to avoid producing extra light. One thing that is helpful is running a fan through the night. Dorm walls can be thin and having this fan will help drown out background noise (or try a white noise machine!).

Making changes to your schedule during the day can also reap benefits when it comes to sleep. Some things to try adding into your daily routine include spending a little time outside each day, doing physical activity earlier in the day and not later, and avoiding caffeine later in the day. This last one can be a problem for the student demographic. Caffeine may be used to help fuel late night study sessions or even provide the power for an all-nighter. As tempting as it may be to stay up late to study, it is better to maintain a regular bedtime which will improve your memory retention. Try ending your caffeine consumption in the early afternoon.

Sleep is a very important aspect of life. We should spend about a third of the day doing it. Not getting enough sleep can have an adverse effect on one’s health. Adjusting behaviors through the day and night can improve productivity and clarity throughout the day. Good luck on finals and make sure to get some sleep!

References
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2018, July 18). Get enough sleep.