Nothing is more important than a good night’s sleep. At the risk of sounding like your mum, sleep is very important at your age! You need enough energy to be able to learn and understand new concepts in lectures and seminars. That can only come from sleep.
Get a proper mattress.
Nothing will make getting to sleep harder than an old, lumpy or suspiciously stained mattress. If you’re in halls or rented accommodation, don’t be afraid to kick off to the accommodation manager or your Landlord if your mattress or bed isn’t up to a good standard. Flip and rotate your mattress every few months to stop it from getting too lumpy on either side.
Turn the screen off!
The light emitted by your mobile, TV or tablet is playing havoc with your brain. “Oh gee, light. Guess it’s time to wake up now!” Playing on your phone might seem like a nice way to relax, but it will stop you from properly resting your eyes and getting some sleep by keeping your mind overly active.
Before you relax, get active!
Do some yoga or go for a walk. Gentle exercise will help to ease you into a good night’s sleep. Don’t go for a full on Rocky training montage as you’ll be too pumped to sleep. Dammit! Now I can’t sleep as I’m thinking about Rocky IV…
Smell your way to sleep.
Rosemary, lavender and other smells can help you to relax. Essential oils or other hippy stuff can actually aid your body into sleepy times. Go to your local head shop and see what they recommend.
Sleepy time rituals!
Go to bed at the same time each night and stick to a certain routine! Keeping your circadian rhythms in check will make your brain think “Right, it’s sleep time now!” at the same time every night. Having a regular bed time is easier said than done with a student lifestyle – the parties, soc socials and essay deadlines spring to mind, but try your best.
Try not to worry.
Anxiety or stress can stop you from getting proper rest; making your symptoms even worse. To stop yourself from staying awake, write a list before you go to bed of everything you need to do the next day. That way, it’s out of your head.
Remember folks, this is all advice from a free magazine on the internet. If you have any serious worries – use the NHS website or see your GP.
Written by Jack Shannon
