I have officially hit that capricious period of sleep that arises with the middle of first semester. The only thing that keeps me going is the fact that I am not alone. Sleep is essential to a human’s daily functions. As we all have heard, eight hours is the ideal amount for sleep. However, we also know that most of us are usually sleep deprived. Many of us (especially students) lack sleep because we are working into the night. But do not use the excuse that you have a huge exam the next day and that you have to pull an all-nighter to study. The truth is your brain needs those eight hours of rest to mull over the study material. Therefore, by staying up, you are setting your brain up for a longer night than necessary. Sleep deprivation can also lead to frightening health conditions, such as diabetes. Other effects may be irritability (which most of are guilty of), memory loss and the risk of obesity. Not to mention, those horrid dark circles. In conclusion, sleep means good.
Since we have established that sleep is a crucial aspect of all of our lives-except for maybe vampires or other mythical creatures (if any of you are out there, give me a shout out @YAABecca on Twitter)-let me present to you some tips that will help you to enjoy those glorious hours of snoozing:
- Turn off those cellular devices or any other technologies. By turning off these devices, you are allowing yourself to be free from any distraction. Do not even leave the television on as it will likely distract you from getting your sleep.
- Exercise/Stretch. Doing physical exercise during your day will rid your body of excess stress and it will also assist in tiring your body out. Thus, your body will be much more willing to go to sleep. Stretching will also help your body to relax. For some exercises to do before bed, click here.
- Create a schedule for yourself. Avoid sleeping at random and inconsistent times. Establish a firm sleeping time for every night. This will let your body know when it is time to go to sleep, instead of tossing and turning during the night.
- Take a cat nap. Despite many debates, napping is a-okay. It can most often be beneficial for you. However, keep the naps short (20-30 minutes) and strive to take this nap in the late afternoon. These napping tips will help you to avoid that dreaded groggy feeling. Check out this link for more dos and don’ts for naps.
- Set the mood. Light some candles (Bath and Body Works has some great stress-relieving candles), turn the temperature down, turn off the lights and snuggle into the warm bliss of your soft comforter. Creating the right environment is significant to getting sleep. Do what is the most comfortable for you. If you like cushions, get a bunch of cushions for your bed. If you hate cushions, then opt for a single plush pillow. It all depends on what works for you.
I hope that these simplistic tips allow you to get your much needed sleep. Snooze away my fellow readers, snooze away.
