By Victoria Giardina
Columnist
Two things come to mind when you hear the word “insomnia” on campus: the delectably warm cookies from Campus Town’s treasured dessert hub or the not-so-great feeling of getting two, maybe three, hours of sleep before a full day of classes. The National Institute of Health states that up to 60 percent of college students suffer from the burden of sleepless nights, of which almost 10 percent have characteristics of insomnia disorder. If you’re feeling extra sleepy, try these tips to fix your schedule and get back on track.
Cultivate a New Study Routine
It seems like opening your textbook is not the doctor-approved method to remedying your restless sleeping habits, but effectively studying is linked with better sleep patterns.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine published a 2008 study, disclosing that almost 70 percent of college students with low GPAs had difficulty falling asleep. The Sleep Foundation also found that academic stress has a positive correlation with insomnia-related symptoms. To catch more Z’s, a new study routine may help.
Start a Worry Journal
Mental stress is certainly not the soothing lullaby that is going to have you drifting off to sleep. Instead of running around on a hamster wheel of anxiety while under the covers, write about your midnight miseries in a journal, instead. Well + Good deems this as an excellent mindfulness practice to combat insomnia once and for all, leaving you counting sheep instead of reasons to be stressed.
