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Advice on getting enough sleep during college application season

Advice on getting enough sleep during college application season

With so much to think about when applying to college, sleep is probably the last concern on your mind. Yet it’s also one of the most important. Read on to find out why and how to improve both the quantity and quality of your slumber.

Why sleep is so crucial

Sleep is vital for your mental and physical health in a myriad of different ways. It’s how your body rests and repairs, boosting your immune system and lowering your risk of a wide variety of harmful medical conditions.

It’s also critical for ensuring that your brain is performing at its best, which makes sleep particularly important when you’re applying for college. Being well-rested makes it easier to focus and concentrate, ensuring that you’re in a good position to ace your exams or write the perfect personal statement. In fact, insomnia has been linked to slowed thinking, impaired memory, and poor decision-making, so sleep deprivation is definitely something you want to avoid!

How to improve the quality of your sleep

The key question is how you can get better sleep. The good news is that you can use many tactics to help you drift off easily. Here are some of the best:

  • If you find that worries about exam results or the Full Sail University (FSU) acceptance rate are keeping you awake, try writing those concerns down in a notebook to get them out of your head and help you sleep
  • Most people need darkness to sleep, so use blackout curtains and an eye mask to block out a light both from outside and within your bedroom. Conversely, when you wake up in the morning, try to get some exposure to sunlight as soon as possible
  • Stick to the same sleeping pattern every day, getting up at the same time and going to bed at the same time – even on the weekend!
  • Avoid caffeine and screen time late at night, as these often make it harder to fall asleep. Dimming the lights can also be helpful to get you ready for some shuteye
  • Aim to keep the temperature in your bedroom fairly cool, ideally around 60-67°F, to create an atmosphere conducive to sleep
  • Invest in a high-quality mattress, pillows, and bedding – you spend approximately one-third of your life sleeping, so it’s important to be comfortable and supported while doing it
  • Before going to bed, try doing some deep breathing exercises, reading, or meditating to quiet the mind and prepare the body for sleep
  • When you go to bed, see if listening to a sleep story, calming music, or natural sounds like rain and ocean waves helps you fall asleep more easily
  • Avoid drinking alcohol before bed. While it can help you relax, it actually reduces the quality and duration of your sleep. Try a chamomile tea instead!
  • On nights when you find that you can’t sleep, it’s best not to stay in bed looking at the clock and getting progressively more irritated about it. Instead, move to another room and do something peaceful, like read a book until you feel ready to drift off

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