8.15 Practicing Self-Care: Making Sleep a Priority
Self-care can be easy to overlook during busy times, and sleep is a form of self-care that isn’t necessarily appreciated as the vital investment that it is. Before sleep, our bodies and minds need time to wind down and prepare for sleep; it’s not as simple as flipping off the light switch. Prioritizing sleep each day like you would other responsibilities and obligations can help ensure it isn’t an afterthought or something that happens when everything else is finally done. Getting adequate sleep is as important as going to class and eating regularly.
Maintaining a consistent schedule and practicing effective time management are important strategies in getting good sleep and improving sleep quality. The better we can manage the way we spend our time, the more likely we are to get enough sleep—and the less likely we are to spend that time tossing and turning due to something that we wanted to get done, but didn’t.
We each make choices every day about how we spend our time. Are there activities, events, or habits which take up more time than they need to or aren’t aligning with your values? How many student groups do you realistically have time for? Where might there be opportunities to complete small tasks earlier in the day so they aren’t lingering at bedtime? Which household tasks can be delegated to roommates, family members, or children? Which future projects or papers could you get started on today to ensure good sleep in the weeks to come? Practicing effective time management strategies will help you through college and beyond—not just to get good sleep and reap the physical and emotional benefits, but to successfully balance school, work, family, and friends.
Expert Perspective: An Honest Assessment of Your Sleep
Self-Assess Your Understanding
- Recognize the importance of prioritizing sleep and how it is an investment toward overall wellbeing.
