Moving to college is an exciting adventure, even if your new living space is 10x10 and shared with someone else. There are so many amazing things waiting for you that it can be a bit overwhelming. In all of the excitement, you might also forget about the basics. Things like eating three meals a day and getting enough sleep. In all the "newness" of things, you can't forget to take care of yourself. There are a few tips and tricks to help you transition smoothly and hopefully focus on yourself as much as you're focusing on everything else around you.
It All Starts With Getting Enough Sleep
When you arrive in your room on move-in day, it might take a minute to get used to the space. Most dorm rooms look like a bit of a box, and it's up to you to put your own spin on it. You and your roommate, that is. But, even if the two of you can't come to an agreement, you at least have half of the room to make your own.
We understand that sleeping probably isn't at the top of your priority list when you get to school. With social activities, studying for exams, extra freedoms, and a roommate that stays up late, how can it be? But keep in mind that getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night is the single best thing you can do for your academic performance as you adjust to all of your new life circumstances.
To enhance your sleep, it's essential to pay attention to the bed itself. With a memory foam mattress topper twin on top of your dorm mattress, you're off to an excellent start. Sleepyhead's mattress toppers are used in over 900 colleges and universities across the country. You can choose from a gel topper or a copper topper. With a 60-night trial and a "good until graduation" guarantee, purchasing a Sleepyhead mattress topper is a great investment.
Benefits of a Memory Foam Mattress Topper Twin
A mattress topper from Sleepyhead promotes better sleep by keeping your temperature regulated and realigning your spine with phenomenal support. Both the gel topper and the copper topper have a washable cover as well. The copper topper takes it one step further as it is antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and mite and bed bug resistant.
You might wonder which you should choose, and frankly, that's all up to you. With the gel topper, you might have added support. With the copper topper, the hypoallergenic piece means more to some. All in all, they're both wonderful mattress toppers, and the only way to go wrong is to not have one at all!
Enhancing Your Sleeping Space
Wondering how you can enhance a shared sleeping space? It's easier than it might seem. First and foremost, even if you know your roommate, there's nothing quite like living with someone in a small space like a dorm room. Your roommate may snore or be a night owl. They may talk in their sleep. For all these reasons, it's a great idea to invest in a great sleep mask and earbuds. There are audio products you can buy that are specifically made for sleeping. They allow you to connect wirelessly to your phone to play a bedtime playlist or simply to provide white noise. They might not eliminate all the noise, but they can help.
You can't turn your twin mattress-equipped shoebox of a dorm room into a five-star suite, but you can make it a relaxing, cool place to sleep. To create privacy, hang curtains around your bed; a tapestry would also be nice and give your room some character. Think of geometric or tie-dye patterns. Construct a pillow fort for a comfortable night's sleep. Another approach to block out noise and raise the temperature is to use fans. Making yourself comfy is key to getting some shut-eye.
You might also consider essential oils. You may or may not have experience with oils, but many people believe the right essential oils can assist with a myriad of things. One of those is helping you get a sound sleep. Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular ones. You can find it in lotions for a better night's sleep, as well as linen sprays. If you're handy, you can even make your own. If it doesn't bother your roommate, you can plug in a diffuser and use essential oil to ease you into sleep.
Speaking of Your Roommate
In the first week or two of living together, you will learn a lot. The most important thing is to maintain respectful and cordial communication. Best case scenario, you become great friends. But even the best of friends don't agree on everything. It's important to understand that your roommate might not realize they're doing something to upset you until you tell them. And when you tell them, you need to be in a good space.
They might not know how loudly they snore, nor can they help it. They might not know that you can't sleep with the television blaring in the background or them talking to friends while they game online. Talk with each other about your habits, routines, and anything else you can think of. Then, set up guidelines moving forward. If you can follow your rules and be kind to each other, you will be fine.
The other thing you can choose is to ignore the situation, but that will only cause you to suffer through what should be one of the best times of your life. If, after talking things through, you feel you need some assistance, talk with the counselor for the dorm. Don't take that step until you've really tried with your roommate first.
Consider this - one of your rules might be to come to an agreement about your communication. If one person is unhappy with something the other is doing, they must voice their concerns within 24 to 48 hours of the issue occurring. The likelihood is that the issue will be straightforward once you raise it. Please wear headphones if you have a class at 9 a.m., and don't watch Netflix after midnight. Make a rule that says, "No hookups while I'm here." Or agree that if the snoring becomes too loud, you'll wake the other person up. The sooner you address the issue, the better it will be.
It's important to communicate openly with your roommate. You need to make it work because you're moving in with a total stranger. You don't need to become best friends, although that would be wonderful if it did. You do need some privacy so you can get a good night's rest.
Define Your Own Boundaries
Your late-night trips, video game tournaments, or midnight eats aren't being questioned by your parents because they aren't present. Major responsibility comes with being your own boss. What is the latest time I can go to bed and still ace the exam? Determine the ideal nights to go out and the best times to stay home and relax. Don't be frightened to give yourself a curfew. You'll be the one bringing your A-game to History 101 the following morning, even if your new buddies don't like it.
You are in college to gain an education. That doesn't mean you can't have fun, but it does mean you might have to edit your activities so you can remain in college, though. Far too many students before you have partied themselves right back home. Don't let that happen to you.
Remember Kindergarten - and Naps?
You're in luck—they're back! Learn the technique of napping so you can quickly recharge after a long academic day. The optimal time to recharge is right after lunch or in the early afternoon; take a quick 20-minute boost or a 90-minute snooze that lasts an entire sleep cycle. For some alone time, check your housemates' schedules. If you take a nap in the late afternoon or early evening, your bedtime routine will be disrupted. Anything after 3:00 p.m. might cause issues. Consider these tips for falling asleep fast so you can make the most of your nap.
Military Method to Fall Asleep Fast
The military method is a technique that emphasizes deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and mental imagery. Here is a quick sleep technique used by the military.
- Take a seat on your bed.
- As you take slow, deep breaths, tense your muscles, starting with your face, and then relax them.
- Continue doing this down your body until you are at ease.
- Then, visualize a quiet scene, such as reclining down in a boat on a placid lake or gently swaying back and forth in a pitch-black room.
If it doesn't work, repeat "don't think" to yourself for 10 seconds and start again. Don't give up if you have problems clearing your mind straight away. It gets easier with practice. This method should enable you to fall asleep faster and faster over time. They will help with not only napping but with falling asleep at night as well.
4-7-8 Method
Using the 4-7-8 approach, you concentrate on counting to block out anxiety-inducing thoughts. Here's how to use the 4-7-8 approach to fall asleep more quickly.
- Relax your tongue and place it on the roof of your mouth when you are lying in bed.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth, making sure to thoroughly empty your breath.
- Inhale for four seconds through your nose.
- Hold at the top of your breath for seven seconds.
- Spend eight seconds exhaling.
- Do this at least four times more.
The traditional yoga technique of pranayama is the foundation of the 4-7-8 system. According to research, pranayama can reduce anxiety and lull you into a tranquil condition, which will speed up your ability to fall asleep.
Try a Little Reverse Psychology
Unexpectedly, striving to stay awake is a tactic that might end up sending you to sleep quickly. Although an impromptu all-nighter isn't ideal, lying up worrying about sleep won't help you fall asleep. Contrary to popular belief, striving to stay awake can actually help you feel less anxious about trying to sleep. When attempting this, try not to check your phone or turn on any bright lights. Instead, attempt:
- Consuming water.
- Using ambient illumination while reading a book.
- Challenging yourself to maintain awareness in your space.
Taking your thoughts away from the current task can offer your brain the break it requires for you to quit counting sheep because falling asleep is an instinctive process.
Improve Your Sleep Routine
In college, many aspects of your daily routine will be very different, particularly the workload and the lack of your mother's help getting you out of bed for classes.
The good news is that the recipe for an excellent sleep routine will remain the same. Get to bed at a decent time, decrease caffeine if you can - especially later in the day, exercise, and minimize screen time as you get closer to bedtime. You will find it much easier to manage all the changes that college life will bring if you can establish a routine. Lack of sleep makes you irritable, impatient, and your thoughts fuzzy. Those things make for a bad combination when you're trying to get yourself acclimated to campus life. Give yourself some time to get used to the new environment, and don't give up. You'll get used to the changes and learn to be flexible with whatever comes your way.
Summary
The start of college means the start of a whole new you. With a different friend set, new classes, fantastic opportunities, and more. Make the most of it by getting the right amount of sleep. These tips are just a few ways to set you on the right path. Fingers crossed you and your roommate click when it comes to routine and personalities, but even if you don't, your memory foam mattress topper twin and a good plan of attack will get you through the semester and beyond.
If you have questions about Sleepyhead mattress toppers or want to see a side-by-side comparison of the gel topper and the copper topper, visit our website.
