Sleep Tips for Students
- By Alyssa Ruffing
- Aug 29, 2019
School is in session! While the school year can bring loads of excitement, it also brings a different sleep schedule for most. Gone are the days of being able to stay up later and night and sleep in in the morning. It is time to get back on a sleep schedule that can prepare you or your child for the best school year yet! Here’s a few tips to for students on how to get the correct amount of sleep they need:
Take Naps
Napping can be a great way to supplement your sleep if you find that you need to stay up a bit later one night or get up earlier in the morning. The start of a school year can absolutely bring a schedule that is a bit more time consuming than usual. It may take some time for you to get used to the new schedule. Taking time in your day to dedicate to a nap can help to combat the effects of sleep deprivation, which can therefor help to improve creative and cognitive thinking, as well as lessen your possible stress or anxiety about the recent changes in your schedule. Don’t be afraid to leave time in your day for a quick power nap, leaving you feeling energized and ready to tackle the rest of you day ahead of you.
Tune out electronics before bed
It can be difficult to shut off your electronics before it is time to go to sleep. Whether it be your smartphone, TV or laptop, all can have an affect on the quality of sleep you get before heading off to bed. If you know that you are going to need to spend a lot of time studying during the day, try if possible, to limit your study time in front of a laptop about an hour before you go to bed. The blue light from your electronics can make it more difficult to go to bed. Although it may seem a bit old fashioned to some, try studying notes from a notebook or a textbook rather than exposing yourself to the blue light of your laptop. You will be grateful you did when you are trying to fall asleep later.
Stick to a Schedule
While this one may seem obvious, it is very important to try and stick to a schedule while in school. Not only will it help with your sleep, but it will help to make sure that you are arriving to classes on time and that there is enough time to study. Try to head to bed at the same time every night, and set your alarm for the same time in the morning. If your class schedule differs during the week, and there are certain classes that are earlier some days, maintain that same wake-up time is still important. Use that extra time in the morning to study some more, or perhaps get some exercise in.
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