Senior biology and science education major
Night owl or early bird? These two avian descriptors are the answer to a question we, as college students, are finally able to definitively answer. Free of our parental bedtime restrictions, university life is the first opportunity we have to define and understand our individual sleep needs as independent “adults.” The ability to moderate our bedtime, class schedule and caffeine intake makes college a four-year study on what we need to survive in the real world as functioning adults.
A successful sleep schedule looks different for everyone and relies on a dizzying number of factors, from body chemistry to childhood habits. To find the routine that works best for you, there is a lot to consider. Questions you must answer: Do I build sleep around my social life or my social life around sleep? How long can I go without sleep before I am a danger to myself and others? Is my body physically capable of being outside before the sun rises?
Now is the time to make these decisions. All-nighters, weekend ragers and early-morning classes put our bodies to the test. And as with any test, it won’t be long before we figure out the right and wrong answers to each question. In doing so, you determine your limits.
Once the limits are set, it is time to tweak. Shift your bedtime by an hour. Try a lunchtime siesta. Invest in the world’s largest coffee thermos or maybe even switch to decaffeinated tea. Use the unpredictability of college life to learn how to adapt your sleep habits to changes in your daily life.
At the end of our time at this university, it should be our goal to know our sleep needs and how to meet those needs. The professional world operates from 9 to 5, so when you leave the protective bubble of college life, make sure you know how to be a fully functioning human being during those eight hours.
Danielle Wilkin is a senior biology and science education major. She can be reached at dwilkindbk@gmail.com.
