As Lancaster students, making sure you have a good sleep schedule is key to succeeding, not just with your academics but also in life. Lack of sleep can have a huge impact on your mental and physical well-being. We know student life can be hectic- balancing lectures, assignments, part-time jobs, and an active social life. But making sleep a priority is essential for your well-being. Here at Escape Campus, we’ve put all our tips and tricks on how to create a positive sleep schedule together for you.
Why is sleep so important?
Firstly, you might be wondering why you need those precious 8 hours of sleep a night… Making sure you’re allowing time to properly rest is key for not only cognitive function, memory retention, emotional well-being and your physical health too. As Lancaster students, you’ll need as much sleep as you can get, especially when going through such an intense period of life, with the pressures of assignments and exams, moving away from home for the first time and making new friends. Getting enough sleep consistently is vital for maintaining a healthy lifestyle!
Developing a routine, and sticking to it!
When creating a sleep schedule, it’s important to tailor it to your needs. If you’re partial to staying up late working on your university assignments, then make sure you allow yourself time to wake up later in the morning. If you love waking up early, then make sure you’re back in your Lancaster student home in time to have an early night in the evening. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to stick to a routine that you know won’t work for your body and your schedule, as long as you’re getting 8 hours of sleep, that’s what matters.
A relaxing space
You can only sleep and rest properly somewhere you feel relaxed. We know that most of you are now living in off-campus student accommodation in Lancaster centre, so making sure your bedroom is a space where you are comfortable is key. A lot of students can struggle to get used to a new student home and a new room straight away, therefore creating a safe cosy space where you can relax will help you get those precious 8 hours. Make sure you’re bedding is comfortable, the temperature in the room is to your preference and, if you’re a person who needs silence to sleep, maybe a good set of ear plugs. One benefit of choosing who you live with in your Lancaster student home means you can choose people you know will respect your need for consistent, good-quality sleep! Making sure your space feels like home is something that needs to be maintained, check out our blog on keeping your Lancaster student home clean and tidy for more info on this.
Be mindful of what you consume
Now we know that this may be the trickiest one for our Lancaster students, but being mindful of what you put into your body can massively improve your sleep. Drinking lots of caffeine and having an all-nighter in the library is not going to help your sleep schedule at all. Neither is consuming lots of alcohol and really late nights, we know students need to socialise and enjoy their newfound freedom, however missing a few nights out and enjoying a cosy evening in your student home can help improve your sleep pattern. Why not have a movie night with your housemates and a hot choc before bed? For expert-backed advice on managing sleep at university, check out The Sleep Charity’s guide here.