5 Tips to Getting More Sleep By Jenna Stanbrough

1.) Manage Your Class Schedule
Many students take on a heavy class load without realizing how the hours of homework can take a toll on the amount of sleep they are getting. It is best to limit the amount of hours students fit into their class schedules to the amount of hours they can handle. Too many classes can lead to difficult homework and many nights of little to no sleep.

2.) Avoid Procrastination
Putting off big assignments until the week they are due is a bad idea. Setting aside projects will set students up for a week filled with long, sleepless nights. “Don't procrastinate” Sarna said. “Keep current with assignments, work at a good pace, and don't let assignments go to the side.”

3.) Make Use of Spare Time
Any spare time in between classes throughout the day can be used to work on homework. That way there will be less to do at night time, allowing more time for sleep. “I do a little bit of homework each hour at a time,” freshman Thomas Hawkins said. “With all my homework done before 10, it gives me at least seven to eight hours of sleep.” While it may seem like a good idea to use late hours of the night to study, staying up late or all night can drain brainpower.

4.) Take Power Naps
During the middle of the afternoon, most students begin to feel tired. Instead of settling into bed for three or four hours, stick to a maximum of 30 minutes for naps. “They have to be short. You can't do long naps and have your body ready to sleep at night,” Sarna said. While it depends on each individual's system, it may be helpful to set an alarm so the naps do not exceed 30 minutes. Some people are able to wake up and immediately feel refreshed, while others may not be ready to get out of bed. “I take naps because I have trouble sleeping at night,” sophomore CJ Lehnherr said. “I normally feel more relaxed and rested than I do in the morning when I wake up for class.”

5.) Avoid Stimulants at Night
About an hour before bed, try shutting off the television and laptop to create a dark and relaxing environment. Flickering light is stimulating and can inhibit restless sleep.The dark lighting will help signal to the brain it should prepare to sleep. Turn off loud music and instead opt for some quiet and calm tunes. Also, avoid caffeine and sugar at least two to three hours before bedtime. “Don't take high power alertness aids like No Doz,” Sarna said. “Some of those medicines are equal to four or five cups of coffee.” It is important for students to understand their bodies and to acquire and stick to a sleeping routine. Interruptions in this routine, such as all-nighters, can throw off the body's rhythm. “The sleep cycle gets so altered that it's hard to get back into a pattern,” Sarna said. “It's a vicious cycle of trying to catch back up on sleep.” The reason we sleep is to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to learn, so it is important to know our bodies so that we can function at our best every day.