Everyone sleeps. And I think everyone can agree, aside from a few characters in “Nightmare on Elm Street,” that it’s pretty great. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, we don’t get enough. Late nights are almost a staple of college life. Every once in a while, it’s OK (not good, but you’ll live). Though, if you begin to fall into a pattern of late nights, then you’ll find yourself suffering from some major consequences.
Firstly, if you consistently are having sleepless nights, you’ll create a “sleep debt.” This is sleep that your body needs to function properly, and it must be acquired one way or another. This can lead to you falling asleep in class, or falling asleep at inopportune times in general. While a midday nap is awesome, it’s not so good if it means you’re missing time that you could be using to finish schoolwork. If you don’t finish it in the day, then you’ll have to finish it at night, and the cycle repeats.
It’s recommended that a college student gets, at least, eight hours of sleep every night. I bet you’re wondering “How?” Well, don’t worry, it’s a lot easier than you think. The best way to tackle this issue is planning. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to live your life according to a schedule, but a few guidelines could certainly help. Set times to get your work and prior obligations done during the day, allotting time for you to get eight or more hours of sleep before your earliest class in the morning.
It’s never too late to make the change. If you’re struggling with academics, consider changing your sleep schedule. A good night’s sleep could be all it takes to get you in the right state of mind for success!