A good sleep is incredibly important for health. In fact, it is just as important as eating healthy and exercising. Unfortunately, natural sleeping patterns are being interfered with, especially for college students. Research shows that students who sleep more perform better academically than those who do not get get enough sleep.
Vista College’s ‘5 Tips to Help You Sleep Your Way to a Higher GPA’ shows a better and more practicable way to get enough sleep and still maintain high GPAs. And believe me, it works. Here’s how:
- Make sure electronic gadgets such as phones, laptops, etc are turned off at night. These cause a lot of unnecessary distractions. You find yourself awake and active all through the night when you should be sleeping. And the bright light from device screens prevents the brain from releasing a hormone called Melatonin which triggers our body to sleep.
- There are 24 hours in a day. This is more than enough for the day’s activities and rest as well. Try and take short naps of 30 minutes or less whenever there is downtime. Taking short naps help improve brain memory.
- Limit drinking caffeine, energy drinks and alcohol, or better still, avoid them all together. Caffeine is a huge contributor to disturbing sleeping patterns.
- Exercising also helps to improve sleep quantity and quality. Your body will be tired after exercise and will need to rest.
- Planning is also an essential part of forming good sleeping patterns. Plan a convenient and regular time each day when you will sleep and wake. Once you keep doing it, it will become a habit and your body will get used to it.
In the below infographic, Vista College emphasizes the need for adequate sleep in collaboration with good study habits. After all, an active and well rested brain is the best way to excellent academic performance!
Image courtesy of: www.vistacollege.edu