We have all disturbed our sleep schedule in one way or another - whether it be trying to finish an essay or staying up from sunrise to sunset all summer long because of FOMO. Developing constant and restful sleep every night can help your body in so many areas - physical, mental, and emotional. Sleep is the key to functioning well in day to day activities. So, keep in mind some pointers below if you find yourself sleepwalking through daily life!
1. Put down your phone
Huffington Post recently came out with a survey of 1,000 people stating that 71 percent said that they sleep with or next to their smartphone. It is easy to see that using a smartphone before bed causes most of us to stay up longer than desired. It is so effortless to fall into an endless loop of "one more video!" Plus, using a smartphone at night strains your eyes, causes discomfort, and can possibly cause blurry vision.
2. Try a daily activity.
Working out can leave you with newfound energy to accomplish multiple tasks during your day that leave your body ready to rest during the nighttime. Physical activities also improve your mood, health status, and decrease your risk of depression. So, next time skip the urge to take a nap and go out for a light run like Phoebe from "Friends!"
3. Stick to a schedule.
Going to bed and waking up around the same time everyday will help your body establish when it is the appropriate time to get tired. This eliminates the need for a boost of caffeine during your day or the need for sleep inducing drugs at night. Especially when early mornings become a reality for most college students, starting and continuing a regular sleep time removes the feeling of needing to "catch up" on sleep.
4. Be smart about light.
Instead of sitting in front of the television with all of your lights on before bed, try only a lamp on to get your eyes partly adjusted to nighttime. This makes it easier for your eyes to relax. Also, if you have to get up during the middle of the night, keep the lights to a minimum for your needs. Invest in a small nightlight in the bathroom or hallway to keep light low.
5. Evaluate your environment.
Is the cat constantly adjusting their position on your bed? Light from the hallway too much? The washer making too much noise at night? Evaluate and see if any of your problems of sleeping have easy fixes. If you can not tell what is keeping you awake at night, have a friend come over to hear their perspective on it. A fresh pair of eyes can spot new things that did not come to your mind.
6. Use the bedroom for one purpose.
To sleep! If your office is also your bedroom, move it to another space to detach from the stress of work or the daunting essay due tomorrow. Having a completely separate area away from your career or school gives a calming, new feeling to being in bed!
Happy sleeping to all!
