Sleeping habits
Sleeping is not only something that feels good but also something necessary. When you are a student, your habits concerning sleep may be different than before. This may be so for various reasons, but it is common that students tend to study a great deal before an exam or a deadline for an assignment, and therefore might need to work late at night. However, you are not so efficient if you are tired when studying. Both sleep and rest are required in order for your body to be healthy and for your brain to be able to digest what it absorbs. Between six to nine hours sleep per night is recommended to give the body the recovery it needs.
Sleep has an important function for learning.
To sleep badly – The one who sleeps badly may develop physical as well as mental symptoms. It is likely that you have experienced a night’s sleep with disturbances, which may be unpleasant, but it is not worse than being without food for a short time. However, if the difficulties reappear during a longer period of time, it is advisable that you contact a person with medical knowledge for counselling.
Some good advice for a good night’s sleep:
• Plan your time so you need not spend late nights studying
• Make sure you have “slow down time” in the evening. Stop physical as well as mental activity an hour before going to bed
• Try to find a regular twenty-four hours rhythm. Try to have the same rhythm weekdays as well as weekends
• Avoid substances that disturb sleep, such as caffeine in various forms, as well as nicotine and alcohol
• Regular physical activity during the day or in the early evening may have a positive effect on your sleep
• See to it that you are sufficiently satisfied as concerns food – do not eat right before you go to bed. If you do that, your body cannot relax satisfactorily
• See to it that your sleeping environment is satisfactorily arranged (a good bed, pleasant temperature, and silence)
• If you cannot sleep, do not just stay in bed. Get up and do something until you feel tired
• You may also consider using a CD for relaxation or just use calm and relaxing music.
