While not all people suffer from restless nights, according to the Huffington Post, about 9 million U.S. adults use prescription sleep aids to ensure quality of rest.” There is no denying that all of us have had our fair share of sleepless nights – cramming in work, socializing or binge watching the latest Netflix hit series. For a long while, I assumed that tossing and turning all about the bed during the night qualified as the normal sleeping routine for most people, but upon further consideration, I realized my sleeping habits couldn’t be healthy.
Most young people develop a sort of insomnia due to the increase in schoolwork at college, not to mention the temptations of the college night life. Especially on college campuses like our own, sleep becomes a precious commodity. The problem with sleeping or falling asleep is that we cannot technically command our bodies to fall asleep whenever we want, so I pose the question: how can we improve our bad sleeping habits? The answer is not definite, for everyone’s bodies work in different ways. As someone who has been prescribed too many sleep medications in the past, I believe it is time for me to explore sleep aid options that are natural and won’t leave me groggy the following day. There are plenty of lifestyle modifications I have begun to research, and all people deserve to know how to recharge their minds and bodies in a healthy way. Improving natural sleep habits through modifications to electronic habits, change in sleeping environment and the development of healthy living habits not only enhances quality of life, but it improves societal productivity and mental and physical health.
The days at school and work can be brutally long, and often the thought of climbing right into bed to fall asleep can be the only thing getting you through the day. Then when the day comes to an end and it is finally time for bed, many people are faced with the frustration of not being able to fall asleep. In my research I found the importance of refraining from using your computer or phone right before you sleep. Even if you have lain awake for a long period of time, it is suggested that you dim the lights and read a book or perhaps write in a journal rather than end up on social media or your email. Breaking this habit of turning to your electronics out of late night boredom could have a huge impact on improving your sleep. This gives your mind and body time to relax and prepare for a good night’s sleep and thus results in a more sound sleep.
Along with giving yourself the proper unwinding time, exercise proves to be a factor in improving your nightly sleep as well. If you get out every day and break a sweat, the Huffington Post’s article stated that “the physically active report getting better sleep than people who don’t work out.” Take this into consideration if you want to improve your quality of sleep, and tell yourself not to skip the trip to the Student Recreation Center today.
Students not only frequently skip workouts each day, but they consume their fair share of caffeine, myself included. Although some caffeine in the morning is perfectly fine, caffeine stays in your system for five hours after the initial consumption, so avoid an afternoon coffee break at the library if you can. College life can make sleepless nights feel normal and acceptable, but it is time that students prioritize sleep. I urge you to do your own research on how you can further modify your daily routines in order to improve your sleeping habits, for the results of figuring out a great sleeping routine will not disappoint.
Anna Scott Lovejoy is a freshman majoring in Spanish and general business. Her column runs biweekly.
