5 Ways to Get Those 8 Hours of Sleep

Sleep has such a strong influence on attitude, learning and mental health. If you don’t get enough sleep, you can feel cranky, sluggish or even anxious. The college years are notorious for sleep deprivation due to an overload of work, activities and stress. Losing precious sleep throughout the week can cause harm to your mental and physical health over time, but we’ve come up with five ways to ensure that you get the daily recommended 8 hours of sleep.

1. Bring on the bubbles

Before you attempt to sleep tonight, try unwinding with a hot bubble bath. The warm water relaxes muscles after a long day, which will leave you less tense when you lie down. If you’re looking to calm nerves, try using scented bubbles as a form of aromatherapy.

2. Set the tone

If you want the best night’s sleep ever and want to wake up feeling mentally refreshed, then create an environment to make it so. Surround yourself with fuzzy pillows and warm blankets, lightly spray the relaxing scent of lavender on your sheets or invest in a sound machine so you block out disrupting noise.

3. Jot down those to-do's

Oftentimes the second your head hits the pillow, you’re reminded of all the things you didn’t get done today and will have to do tomorrow. This mental unrest can cause a lot of tossing and turning in the night. To resolve this struggle, write down everything that needs to be done before you go to bed so you don’t have to think or worry about it and you’ll be ready to start the day off fresh!

4. Cut back on the coffee

Daily caffeine intake can mess up your sleep schedule and limit the number of hours you’re getting per night. Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake for hours and leave your head feeling cloudy. For a nighttime regimen, try drinking sleepy-time teas instead.

5. Keep it cool

By keeping your bedroom cooler at night, your body reaches its optimal temperature for sleeping faster. Then since your body isn’t working as hard to regulate the temperature, you’re in for a deeper sleep as well. Aim for 60 to 67 degrees for your best sleep ever!

These five simple tricks to add to your daily routine will surely help you achieve a better night’s sleep so you can physically and, most importantly, mentally take on whatever comes your way!