APU Careers & Learning Editor's Pick Online Learning

Improving School Performance Through Better Sleep

students-sleep-deprivationBy J. Mason
Online Learning Tips Editor

You’re a college student, probably juggling studies with work and other obligations. You even may be guilty of staying up all night to cram for a test or finish a paper. If only you could get some sleep!

Sleep deprivation has some bad side effects, including decreasing your ability to focus on course work or anything else. Even if you can set aside a decent number of hours to crash, what if you can’t fall asleep?

Here are some ideas that may help you get the rest you need, and perform better in school:

  1. Follow a consistent bedtime routine. While there may be exceptions, try to stick with a consistent bedtime.
  2. Give yourself time to prepare for sleep with a nighttime routine. Don’t expect your best sleep to come immediately after turning off the computer and hitting the sack. While this works for some blessed few, you need time to wind down.
  3. Consider reading something besides a book for school before you go to sleep. If you can immerse yourself in a story, rather than the last page you read about statistics or the Crimean War, it might help reduce some stress from the day.
  4. Try to get a full night’s sleep every day. For some, that’s eight or nine hours, others wake up refreshed after six. Figure out what works best for you.
  5. Do we need to say this? Don’t drink coffee, tea, sodas – or eat chocolate (ouch!) – within several hours of bedtime. Caffeine is not a good way to end the day.
  6. Reconsider your time commitments. What changes can you make to reclaim enough time to feel rested and not stressed 24/7? What could you remove from your list of tasks or activities that are overwhelming you? Make a list and pare down some of these activities.
  7. If you can, keep TVs out of the bedroom, and leave the computer behind, too. Sleep in a quiet, dark room that’s not too warm. Keep your phone on silent as well. The glow of a screen in a calm room may make it harder to get to sleep. So turn off your feed!
  8. Eat something small before bed. Try a glass of water or a small healthy snack.
  9. Don’t work out, run, or jog before bed. Cranking up your heart rate before crashing isn’t a great way to prepare for sleep. If you do work out late at night be sure to cool down with stretches before laying down to bed.
  10. Get up at the same time every day. There’s no such thing as “catching up on your sleep.” Staying on schedule is the best way to feel rested.

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