The quality of sleep you get determines your productivity. In college, it will affect your concentration in class and your ability to perform other tasks you may have chosen in college. It will also reflect on your physical and mental health.
Better sleep in college is elusive since you are living with students of diverse personalities and habits. Some want to party in the evening, enjoy music, or play video games, all activities that come with noise. Light and an uncomfortable bed may also take away your sleep.
Here are excellent tips to guarantee better sleep in your college dorm.
1. Take care of your school assignments
Students worry too much about school assignments and studies to the point of losing sleep. However, having completed your assignments, the mind will be relaxed enough to allow you to sleep. You can buy a college paper online to avoid worrying too much about incomplete work or a topic you do not understand.
Attend your classes to make it easier to complete assignments as well as study because you understand the concepts taught in class. Meet deadlines for homework to avoid undue pressure. Once you prioritize your assignments, you will easily find sleep.
2. Make a cozy bed
A good bed helps you to sleep soundly. It is comfortable to your back, allowing you to fully rest for the hours you have set. Choose the right mattress density and warm blankets. If you are comfortable with pillows, you may throw a few on the bed.
The right bed size will also improve your quality of sleep. It allows you to turn around comfortably to avoid fatigue on one side of your body. You will sleep soundly if you do not strain in the night.
3. Develop a sleep routine
A routine involves a schedule detailing a specific time to sleep and wake up each day. The schedule should be obeyed even over weekends. It sets the body clock to switch you off at a specific time and wake you up at a set time. You will never have to struggle to find sleep.
A routine may also involve other activities to help you sleep. You may take a cup of warm beverage that is free from caffeine before hitting the bed. You may also read a book. Switching off the lights, closing the door, checking the curtains, and such preparation activities build a working routine. The body and mind will know that it is time to sleep or wake up.
4. Create a sleep-friendly environment
Does the environment where you sleep to support a comfortable night? A neat room and clean bedding will guarantee a good sleep. Freshen the room and organize it such that it feels comfortable to sleep in.
Switch off the lights so that they do not distract you while you sleep. Close the windows to keep the room warm. You may add some music to soothe you to sleep. A neat and organized dorm will help you to sleep comfortably.
5. Exercise regularly
Regular exercise and an active body are associated with good sleep. Exercise in the gym, walk around campus or hit the field. Join a college sporting team to create room for constructive exercises that will indirectly improve your sleep.
Regular exercise tires your muscles. As the body moves to repair and replenish the torn tissues, it will send you to sleep. Exercises also send enough blood and food to all body tissues. In the process of extensive blood circulation, it clears toxins from the body. The improved health will come with sound sleep.
6. Eat healthily
A healthy eating routine will guarantee a good sleep. Do not skip meals. Interject the meals with snacks that keep your energy high enough to meet your obligations. Eat enough fruits and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Avoid caffeine and other stimulants a few hours before going to bed. Opt for beverages that keep you warm and calm such that you can easily find sleep. Alcohol will also easily take away your sleep when taken in the evening. A healthy body through a proper diet will guarantee a good sleep.
7. Use the bed only for sleep and sex
The bed is only meant for sleep and sex. Avoid spending time on the bed while chatting with friends or watching movies. The body registers that you do not have to sleep whenever you are on the bed.
Exclusive use of the bed for sleep sends the mind a signal that you need to sleep whenever you lay down. If you use it for other activities, the mind will be confused. Such mixed signals confuse the body and mind, resulting in loss of sleep.
8. Keep gadgets out of the bed
The phone, tablet, and laptops have become bedmates for many college students. You chat with friends until late in the night or watch online content. Such content includes comedies, music, movies, and other mentally stimulating materials. They keep the mind engaged in such a way that it cannot calm down to guarantee sleep.
Glare from the devices will also affect your eyes. Most gadgets have a night mode setting option. Use it to avoid too much light that will take away your sleep.
9. Limit afternoon naps
The body is designed to rest when tired. However, too many rest sessions mean that the body cannot be tired enough to cause you to sleep.
While the afternoon nap may be tempting, you should limit it to a few minutes or even do away with it. It allows both the body and mind to be tired enough to instantly sleep once you hit the bed.
10. Negotiate the dorm environment with roommates
The dorm brings together different personalities and interests. Each wants to claim his space. Negotiate a workable schedule. You may set a specific time to switch off lights or reduce the volume of any music. Provide an allowance for parties over weekends and holidays. Allow reasonable compromises to accommodate all interests.
Good sleep will make learning easier. It also guarantees your physical and mental health such that you can optimize your potential in college. Better sleep comes from a routine as well as setting the right environment, among other measures.
