Getting Enough Sleep to Maintain Wellness
Getting adequate sleep is another way to protect yourself from stress. When you wake up in the morning, you should feel fresh and sharp. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 63 percent of American adults do not get the recommended eight hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can lead to anxiety, depression, and academic problems. Researchers found that students who studied all week but then stayed up late partying on the weekends forgot as much as 30 percent of the material they had learned during the preceding week. Try the following suggestions to establish better sleep habits:
- Avoid long daytime naps that last more than 30 minutes.
- Try reading or listening to a relaxation tape before going to bed.
- Exercise during the day.
- Get your clothes, school materials, and food together for the next day before you go to bed.
- Sleep in the same room and bed every night.
- Stick to a regular schedule for going to bed and getting up.
Catch Some Z’s
When you aren’t getting enough sleep, you cannot do your best. A brief, 20-minute nap can revive you when you’re feeling tired during the day. Establish good sleeping habits and grab opportunities for power naps when you can.
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