Sleep is one of life’s most important things; a good night’s rest is vital for improving your mental and physical health, balancing your hormones, and helping you focus while you’re studying. It’s not always easy to get a great night’s sleep living in shared accommodation, but there are definitely some ways you can improve your chances! Below you’ll find some of our top tips to help you snooze more soundly…
Avoid naps
It can be tempting to have an afternoon nap when you get back from a lecture or a study session – your bed is just too inviting sometimes, right? But a nap will make it harder for you to drift off at night and sleep well, because your body will feel like it doesn’t need the sleep quite as much. A nap can just really throw you off, so try and avoid them as much as you can.
Limit screen time in the evening
It’s easier said than done, of course, but limiting your screen time at night can really help you sleep better. The harsh light of a phone or laptop can overstimulate your brain, making it harder to fall asleep, and of course by taking in information and entertainment you’re giving your brain a lot of activity. By doing something different and ‘off screen’, like reading a book or doing some self care, you’ll be switching off and getting relaxed before bed.
Stick to a routine
Of course it isn’t always easy to stick to a routine at university when there seems to be nights out or events happening all the time – but if you’re struggling with your sleep, a routine will really help. By doing the same set of things each night before you go to bed, you’ll be letting your brain know that it’s time to go to sleep. What your routine entails is up to you; skincare, reading, meditation and so on. As long as you try and keep it the same each night, you’ll find falling asleep much easier.
Invest in some earplugs
If you have noisy flatmates, it’s definitely worth getting some earplugs. People aren’t always intentionally noisy, but when there’s a lot of people in one place it’s easy for the noise levels to rise. Earplugs will help reduce some of that noise and help you get into the right zone for drifting off. If you do have any particularly noisy neighbours, it can be worth having a little chat with them and asking if they can keep it down. Sleep is just so important!
Cut down on caffeine
Tea, coffee, fizzy drinks… caffeinated beverages can definitely stop you from sleeping. Caffeine blocks the sleep-promoting receptors in your brain called adenosine receptors, keeping you alert and awake – this might be great during the day when you need to study, but it can definitely keep you up at night. Drinking too much caffeine is a sure fire way to prevent a good night’s sleep, so cutting down is really important.
Hopefully these tips will help you get a better night’s sleep at university, to make sure you can focus on your studies and succeed in everything you wish to achieve!
