Heading to university is bound to bring about numerous emotions. It\u2019s the start of an exciting chapter in your life in which you have a lot of additional freedom \u2013 especially if you\u2019re moving to study in a new town or city. But university life can feel very different to the routine of school or college and living with your parents. One of the perhaps unexpected ways a university lifestyle can impact you is a change in your sleeping habits, whether that\u2019s a difference in the amount of sleep you get, changes to the quality of your sleep, or difficulties getting to and staying asleep.<\/p>\n
Having troubles with your sleep can affect all areas of your life, from your mood and wellbeing to how well you\u2019re able to study. So understanding the relationship between university life and sleep is important.<\/p>\n
First, let\u2019s look at why your sleep is likely to be impacted:<\/p>\n
The excitement of making new friends and having new social experiences is a huge part of the appeal of university. 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.<\/p>\n
Drinking alcohol also impacts the quality of our sleep<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve had a big night out, it can be tempting to sleep in. Before long, any regular sleep pattern is out of the window.<\/p>\n The desire to maintain an active social life while keeping up with academic responsibilities can lead to late-night study sessions and cramming. Cramming (attempting to remember a lot of information in a short period of time) relies on short-term memory, so you only retain and regurgitate information, as opposed to knowing and understanding it.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t 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<\/a> and planning ahead can reduce the risk of last-minute panicking. We all feel better when we\u2019re sleeping well. So if you\u2019re looking to improve your sleep, think about the following:<\/p>\nA lack of routine<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Academic pressure<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\nTips for improving your sleep<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n