I hope everyone had a relaxing reading week and finally got to catch up on some much-needed relaxation! Getting to sleep-in past noon was definitely a highlight for me!
During reading week, I attended a Health and Wellness Sleep Well Workshop to learn the benefits of sleep and some strategies to help have the best snooze possible.
While I know many of you are stressing over exams and prioritizing studying over sleeping, to do your best, you need to get your rest!
Here are three takeaways that stuck with me from the workshop, but I highly recommend attending it yourself. One is taking place on Monday, December 5 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
- There are many things that can get in the way of having a goodnight sleep, whether it’s having trouble falling asleep, waking up during the night, waking up too early and having an unrefreshed sleep. But, there are ways to improve your environment to help mitigate these problems. Try to reduce noise, make your room as dark as possible, and having a cooler room temperature is better than hot. I also tend to get super hungry at night, but wolfing down a Big Mac, chicken nuggets and a pack of ramen noodles is not going to put your body to rest (as much as I may be craving it)🍔. Having any heavy meals 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime is best and having a light snack before bed like cheese and crackers is totally okay. Phew.😅
- Scrolling on your phone for hours in bed ain’t helping!📱
You may have heard this one before, but I’m not sure how many of us have taken this advice…While lying in bed may seem like a great time to unwind by scrolling through some funny TikToks, checking out your friends' recent insta posts, or watching Youtube videos, the bright screen light is not good for falling asleep. To avoid this, I leave my phone out of my room at night, and if I do have it, I turn off wifi, put it on airplane mode, and leave it out of sight.
- Worries👻
In the period of time when I get to bed and am trying to fall asleep, it’s an easy opportunity to begin worrying. I may replay parts of my day, question if I said the right things, think “What if” questions, or feel stressed about school. While it’s not a simple task canceling out bad thoughts, every night, I also make sure to reflect on the positives by giving gratitude to those I love, sending out good vibes and warm wishes, and giving myself a mini pep talk if needed. The sleep well workshop also recommended a worry journal, relaxation activities like yoga or visualizing yourself in peaceful scenes. I will be imagining myself at the beach during these cold months…
Your health comes first, so do what you can to get the hours of sleep that make you feel refreshed and awake without needing ten cups of coffee!☕️
Until next time,
Sammi Herlich
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