In college, it is so easy to oversleep and miss things like class, meetings, working out, etc. At one time or another, everybody has snoozed their alarm one too many times and didn't wake up for something. There is nothing more frustrating than that feeling. But there is help for the chronic over-sleeper! It just takes a little self-discipline, knowledge, and power of the will. Most cases of oversleeping are related to the poor quality and low quantity of the sleep we do get.
Here are four helpful tips!
1. Go to bed before midnight.
The best hours of sleep you can get are between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. You want your body to be able to get into the REM stage of sleep and come out of it before you wake so you're not groggy and grumpy. I know this seems like an impractical habit to get into because college life is usually later than adult life. But it's worth it! Put down the books, leave the hangout, or stop the Netflix, and go to bed. This will help your body rest and make it so much easier for you to get up in the morning.
2. Don't drink coffee late in the day.
I am an ADDICT, so I know how hard it is to take this step, but it's true what they say- caffeine makes for a bad night's sleep. Caffeine is a stimulant. It makes your body more excited and thus awake which leads to poor sleep if you're in this state at bedtime. It's a good rule to just skip the caffeinated beverages after 5 p.m., so that you can get truly good sleep and wake up refreshed. So don't do the late night study sessions that require copious amounts of caffeine (see tip #1)!!
3. Turn off your brain before you go to bed.
We often wait to deal with stressful things in life until our head hits the pillow at the end of the day. We lie there wide awake thinking about that fight we're having with our roommate or how disappointed we are with our grades. Instead of dealing with this when you need to be resting, take time to deal with it throughout your week. Set out time to journal, talk to a friend, or go on a walk so you can sort through the issues that you need to before you try to go to sleep.
4. Plan accordingly.
You can only do the first three steps if you're ahead of the game! Plan out your week beforehand, so you won't be caught studying until 3 a.m. Make sure you're eating foods that give you energy, so your body won't be exhausted. Make time to deal with emotional stressors throughout the day, so you won't lie in bed thinking for hours. Set multiple alarms or ask a roommate to make sure you're up and at 'em when you need to be!
Sleeping in is good for the soul every once in a while, but don't miss out on life before 11 a.m. because it can be pretty great!
