Why a Good Night's Sleep Matters

Everyone loves their beauty sleep. Unfortunately, when you’re in college or university, quality sleep can be hard to come by. Many college students pull all-nighters and still have to go to class, work, or both the next day. Whether you have to stay up late to study for finals or write that long paper, sometimes it may feel as if there’s no choice but to skimp on sleep. With so many priorities to juggle including an active social life, classes, homework, and a job, your sleeping habits take a serious hit. Yet, it’s important to get the sleep you need every night so that you stay healthy and maintain strong performance in class or at work. Luckily, the best student apartments Ottawa has to offer will make it easy to get a peaceful, good night’s sleep. Here’s why quality slumber is so important during your years at school:

Reduces Stress

When your body and mind are tired, they go into a state of stress. Even if you didn’t feel stressed the day before, a lack of sleep can bring on anxiousness the next day. Inadequate sleep can disrupt the balance of a key stress hormone called cortisol, even after just one night.

Improve Energy Levels

An adequate amount of rest allows you to function at optimal levels throughout the entire day. When you wake up feeling refreshed, you’re able to perform your daily tasks more proficiently and efficiently. This is especially important for busy students, who are always working towards assignment deadlines or preparing for important tests.

Better Focus

Sleep also helps you focus and remember the important information you learn in your classes. When your mind is well-rested, you’ll find yourself retaining information more easily. If you find yourself struggling to recall what you learned during lectures, consider clocking some extra hours of sleep to improve your retention skills.

Good for Health and Wellness

One night of missed sleep here or there might not seem like a big deal. Yet, over time, poor sleep can contribute to serious health issues, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health issues. Getting fewer than the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night also disrupts hormonal balances, potentially leading to increased fat storage and lack of appetite control.

Practicing “Good Sleep”

Good sleep hygiene is essential to promoting healthy sleeping habits. In order to practice “good sleep”, you can follow a few simple rules:

Turn out the lights: This includes turning off your electronics. The blue light from your phone, laptop, and tablet can actually disrupt your circadian rhythm, so put your devices down at least an hour before bedtime.

Maintain a consistent cycle: Try going to bed and waking up at the same time each day (including weekends) to help your body adopt a consistent sleeping cycle, which will promote quality sleep each night.

Tamper with Temp: The temperature of your room can affect your sleep quality. A cooler temperature—between 60 and 67 degrees, for instance—can help your body relax when it’s time to count sheep.

Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bed: These triggers may disrupt your sleep cycle and keep you awake longer. As a college student, it may be difficult to refrain from caffeine and alcohol completely, so try drinking these beverages earlier, and never right before bedtime.

Start putting these tips into practice now to start reaping the rewards when classes start.