Sleep has a major impact on how you feel throughout the day and how productive you are at work or at school. Unfortunately, college students tend to get little because of how busy students are with schoolwork and their professional and personal lives. Consistently sleeping well can help you feel more energetic and focused, which might just mean higher test scores and better academic success. Discover some tips on sleeping successfully and see if you can implement them.
Create a Sleep Schedule
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can have a positive impact on how you feel because your body gets used to the time and allows you to experience better sleep quality. Large variations in your sleep schedule can actually have a similar effect to not getting enough sleep.
Implement a Bed Time Routine
Before going to bed you should find something to help calm your mind or find a relaxing technique. Reading a book or practicing deep breathing is an example of the perfect, relaxing before bed techniques that will help you wake up feeling refreshed. Bedtime routines will help your body calm down faster and allow you to get that extra hour of sleep.
What Not To Do Before Bed
You should avoid eating within two to three hours before your planned bedtime because it can make falling asleep more difficult. Also, exercising right before bed can make it difficult to fall asleep, however, regular exercise can make it easier to fall asleep and improve sleep quality. Other things to avoid before bed are caffeine, alcohol, and screen time. Screen time includes your cell phone, computer, tv and other electronics that emit blue light waves. These light waves have the same effect as sunlight and will stimulate your body to be awake, making it difficult to fall asleep.
Focusing on your sleep quality can have a positive impact on academic success. Sleep plays a huge role in creating and consolidating memories. If you don’t get enough sleep, you can suffer from a decay of memories, which is no good when finals come around. Napping 10-45 minutes can actually help you if you don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. Sleep efficiency is key, practice relaxation techniques before bed, follow our tips on what not to do before bed and you will be waking up feeling refreshed day after day!