Just think of all we could get done if we didn’t have to sleep. Work and school, plus plenty of time to socialize, do chores and get homework done.
If only…
But nope. Sleep is a crucial part of the day.
Getting enough sleep can influence many different aspects of our lives.
Not getting proper amounts of sleep can make us feel groggy, distracted, and irritable.
Let’s face it – we’re A LOT less likely to go to the gym or do some meal planning, when we’re sleep deprived. And it’s impossible to focus on school work.
If you’re having a hard time in the sleep department, here are a few tips to help you get the rest you need:
1.Maintain A Regular Schedule
Think of your body like a clock. This clock runs its best on patterns. Waking up and going to bed at the same time every day will improve your sleep. Try to do this even on weekends to optimize your sleep and wake up feeling more energized and ready to take on the day.
When you’re fairly consistent on the weekends (like within an hour of your weekday sleep patterns) you won’t have any trouble falling asleep on Sunday night and this sets your week off on the right foot.
2. Avoid Stressful Activities Before Sleep
It’s 9 pm, you’re winding down the day and think to yourself “Aw man! I forgot to go to the gym… I’ll go now.” Instead of going to get in leg day, try to wake up early the next day for your gym session.
Strenuous activities right before you go to bed can hinder your sleep and cause you to stay up later. Try to engage in wind down activities such as meditation or reading before bed to get you falling asleep faster.
3. Get Comfortable
Make sure before you go to rest your head that you are wearing comfortable clothes, including loose fitting shirts, pants, or shorts.
Having cozy blankets and pillows to snuggle with at night will send you to dream world in no time.
4. Check Your Environment
The environment you sleep in is just as important as what you wear and where you sleep. Make sure you’re sleeping in a dark and quiet room. Make sure all TVs, phones, and computers are off to avoid unnecessary lights and sounds.
If you can’t get your roommates to keep it down, consider using a white noise machine or app, or just a box fan to drown out the noise around you.
5. Avoid Caffeine, Nicotine, Other Stimulants
Avoid the consumption of these stimulants, especially right before bed. We hate to admit that these impact our sleep, but they do. Reduce, eliminate, or adjust the timing so that you can get a good nights sleep.
Ni-Night!
Hana Bennett, UCAN Manager