How to Sleep like an Adult in College

How to Sleep like an Adult in College  

by Laura Karnoski and College Greenlight from the blog:
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/how-to-sleep-like-an-adult-in-college/

Welcome, incoming freshman, to one of the most mind opening, intellectually engaging, and socially exciting times of your life! …If you can stay awake for it.

If you are anything like me, you probably spent your time in high school studying, volunteering, hanging out with friends, and working. These are great exercises and experiences that you will find beneficial as you find yourself encountering the college-versions of these obligations. However, be it changes in academic rigor, body chemistry, or a demanding social life (there will be MANY new opportunities to make friends), even if this whirlwind of activities was a breeze in high school, you will probably find yourself feeling a whole new version of exhausted.

At my school in particular, it is not uncommon to walk through the library late at night- it’s open twenty-four hours a day- and see people who have fallen asleep face down in their chemistry textbooks. Though some people may think to themselves, “tuition is expensive, I should be able to sleep where I want”, on behalf of your lumbar spine, I implore you to consider other options:

Try afternoon classes
 
The great thing about college is that in most cases, you can tailor your schedule to fit your needs. If you are the type of person that likes to study or socialize late into the night, try taking afternoon classes! They leave time in the morning and evening for eating a meal, exercising, going to work, or you-name-it.

Set a weekday bedtime
 
As lame as it might sound, even adults need a bedtime. While it is recommended that you go to bed at the same time every single night, we know that it is nearly impossible to commit to that in college. At the very least, you should be going to bed at the same time during the week. By cutting down your attendance at week night parties you not only will see the benefits to your energy and attentiveness in class, but those weekend parties will be so much sweeter.

You also need a wake time
 
Not only is going to bed on time important, so is waking up on time. If you have a 9am class two days a week, you should be getting up before 9am every day. By starting your days at a consistent time, you will begin to wake up with a consistent amount of alertness.

Be nap savvy
 
If you’ve gotten yourself into sleep debt (meaning you haven’t gotten enough sleep the night before) a nap is a much better alternative than sleeping late the next day. Napping can recharge you, while still ensuring that you maintain your sleep schedule. However, if you are prone to insomnia, then you need to take a different approach. For insomniacs, napping can make falling asleep at night much more difficult. If you feel like your napping is becoming more regular than your sleep schedule, you should probably cut back.

Fight the “2:30 feeling”
 
Many people get tired after big meals, or during slow parts of the day. Succumbing to that drowsiness can frequently lead to way-too-long nap sessions. When you feel drowsy (and know you’ve gotten enough sleep the night before) resist the urge by exercising, doing chores, or going for a walk.

Taking care of yourself earns a whole new meaning when you are in college, and sometimes sleep is the first to fall from your checklist of self-care activities. During my freshman year, I found that a combination of strategic napping, coffee and at least 8 hours of sleep a night was what it took to not fall asleep in my 10am lectures. Being well rested might seem simple, but in a world where our academic and professional demands are rapidly increasing, dreaming big can leave you snoring above the rest.

Laura is a Point Foundation Scholar and first-time freshman!