With the semester coming to a speedy end, assignments, tests and everything else is building up and causing sleepless nights. Why can’t we just turn our minds off at night? Here are a few tips to get some extra sleep at night. 

Sleep schedule

Try changing your sleeping schedule. The body sometimes gets used to waking up at the same time every morning. When the body becomes accustomed to the same time every day, it becomes lazy and tends to turn off the alarm while sleeping. Try going to bed a half hour earlier and getting up a little earlier. Even if you’re still tired, you get an extra hour of sleep.

Limit caffeine and eat earlier

Limit the caffeine when it’s not needed. It is best to avoid caffeine up to eight hours before bed. That way it’s out of the system and will make it easier to fall asleep. It also helps people avoid eating later in the evening. The body needs time to digest food before trying to sleep.

Turn off screens

Turn off screens at least an hour before bed. I know checking social media before before bed is kind of a habit, but avoiding the bright light from the screen will help relax the brain and help you fall asleep faster. Sometimes just clearing the mind can sometimes help to fall asleep faster. Try to take your mind off the things that are causing stress in your life. Try counting, thinking about good things in life, or reading a chapter of your favorite book.

Visit a doctor

Why does the mind always tend to keep thinking at the worst possible time? Some of the most common reasons are anxiety, depression, stress, anger, worry, medical problems, medications and sleep disorders. Some sleep insomnia lasts for a short time, but some can last a while. If you have a real medical problem, make sure to visit a doctor.

Sleep can sometimes be less of a priority compared with homework and studying, but sleep is still important. Sleep helps the brain perform better, and it becomes easier to learn. So stop stressing and just relax. The semester is almost over.