How University Life Affects Your Sleep (and Tips to Improve)
University life can bring about a wide range of emotions. It often marks a period of increased independence, particularly for those studying away from home or living in a new town or city. University life can feel very different from the routine of school or college and living with your parents. One of the perhaps unexpected ways a university lifestyle can impact you is through changes to your sleeping habits, whether that’s the amount of sleep you get, the quality of your sleep, or difficulties getting to and staying asleep.
Having trouble with your sleep can affect all areas of your life, from your mood and wellbeing to how well you’re able to study. Therefore, understanding the relationship between university life and sleep is important.
First, let’s look at why your sleep is likely to be impacted: 👇
Increased Socialising
The excitement of building friendships and enjoying social experiences is a huge part of university life. But social gatherings, parties, and events often occur in the evenings and can extend late into the night, leading to later bedtimes and less sleep.
Drinking alcohol also impacts the quality of our sleep. It might feel like you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, but as the body metabolises alcohol, it can lead to increased wakefulness during the night. It disrupts the sleep cycle, particularly the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage, which is crucial for restorative and cognitive functions.
A Lack Of Routine
Unlike the structured schedule of school, university life often involves irregular class times and activities, which can disrupt regular sleep patterns. On some days, you might not have a lecture until the afternoon, so if you’ve had a big night out, it can be tempting to sleep in. Before long, any regular sleep pattern is out of the window.
Academic Pressure
The desire to maintain an active social life while keeping up with academic responsibilities can lead to late-night study sessions and cramming. Cramming (trying to memorise a lot of information in a short period of time) relies on short-term memory, so you may retain and regurgitate information rather than fully understanding it.
Don’t beat yourself up too much if you need to cram from time to time, but try not to rely on it. Creating a study schedule and planning ahead can reduce the risk of last-minute panicking. Learn how to create a PDF study schedule →
Now that we’ve looked at some common ways university life can affect your sleep, here are some tips to help you sleep better. 👇
Tips for improving your sleep
We all feel better when we’re sleeping well. If you’re looking to improve your sleeping, consider the following:
- Focus on your sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene refers to a set of practices and behaviours that support regular, good-quality sleep. Good habits include keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet, having a short wind-down routine before bed, and reducing screen time. For more student-focused tips on improving sleep, see this guide here →.
- Control what you can. Depending on where you live, there might be additional noise or distractions that impact your sleep. Consider if it’s worth investing in blackout blinds, earplugs, a fan or any other essentials which could make your bedroom somewhere conducive to rest.
- Be accountable. You’re responsible for your own time at university, so it’s important to find a balance that works for you. Remember your goals for attending uni and accept that there will, at times, be a need to compromise. Missing the odd night out to catch up on sleep can be hugely beneficial to your wellbeing.
We hope these tips help you sleep better and enjoy university life. 😊
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