Did You Know...

Did you know that less than 1/3 of college students get enough sleep? When I saw this article I have to admit, I wasn’t surprised to hear that 68 percent of college students have trouble sleeping because of stress.

Stress is a major part of college and I can definitely attest to those sleepless nights. Whether it’s because of an impending exam or just my mind running on overdrive, I know what it’s like to hopelessly count sheep. The worst part is, the more you try to fall asleep, the more anxious you become and the harder it is to drift off. 

Sleep is extremely important for your health and well-being. As I enter my last year of undergraduate education, I feel compelled to point out a few tricks that have helped me beat those sleepless college nights.

1. Maintain a Nighttime Routine. Do you normally watch television before bed? What about showering or brushing your teeth? Try doing these things in the same order every night. Now, I’m not talking OCD-style, but try to stick to the same order of events. I’ve found developing a routine helps me mentally prepare for sleep and makes it easier to get a good night’s rest.
2. Try Reading Something Non-Fiction. Personally, I’ve found that reading fiction often riles emotions and sometimes gets you in that can’t-put-the-book-down mood.  I find tackling my textbook readings right before bed is great because—well, to put it straight, a lot of the stuff makes me want to fall asleep! Anything non-fiction will do though, unless you’re someone who gets really excited about philosophy or microbiology, in which case more power to you!
3. Play a Game on Your Cell Phone. I don’t know why, but sometimes when I can’t fall asleep I find playing a game of solitaire on my beloved iPhone does the trick. The game helps me to stop thinking about everything I have to do and just lets me focus on the simple task of winning a card game. Eventually, I find my eyelids getting a little heavy, and before I know it I’m catching some Zzzs.

These are just a few things that help me get to sleep and they probably won’t work for everyone. What about you? Do you have any secret tricks that help you drift off at night?