Are You Sleep Deprived? Perhaps You Worry Too Much

Q: I am a senior in college and I am struggling with getting a good night’s sleep. I think I am worrying and I don’t seem able to turn off my brain. What should I do because I feel it’s affecting my grades?

A: We live in a culture of sleep deprivation. Most of us do not get a good night’s sleep. There are many factors to be considered. We are told that the average person sleeps six to eight hours a night. That is really not the case for most Americans. Eight hours may be the recommendation, but it is far from the norm. You are definitely not alone. My guess is that our sleeping patterns changed when you entered college. Without a good night’s sleep, you are prone to reduced performance, hence your grades are affected. Even your memory and motor coordination fade rapidly.

I would like to recommend that you go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time each morning. You may want to drink a warm glass of milk or sleepytime tea with no caffeine as it affects your central nervous system. Get plenty of exercise, but not after 6:00 p.m. as you will be too hyped up to go to bed early. Try not to make a habit of pulling all-nighters as that will interfere with your sleep cycle.

You may also want to begin a meditation practice, guided or silent. Meditation keeps you in the moment and will help aid in a good night’s sleep. Apps such as Insight Timer, Head Space and Calm have some good guided meditations to get you started.

Following the tips above can be a start to getting a good night’s sleep which will help you in all aspects of your daily life.