My name is Taryn Martzall and I am in my last semester of my four year college journey which I have commuted all of these years I am here to express reasons as to why commuting is better for not only costs but to create better habits with sleeping in order to succeed in and out of the classroom I live in a town that is about thirty minutes away from my campus While the commute is a bit hard to manage getting to campus on time it helps create a proper time management schedule for your entire day
Typical Day In The Life As A Commuter Student
Wake up at least two hours before class time
Make morning coffee and go through the list of things that I have planned for the day
Get ready for the day getting dressed and brushing teeth
Heading to campus
Hanging out on campus getting school work done in between classes
Going to class until 2 pm
Heading to work at a local restaurant at 3 pm
Getting home from work at 11 pm
Taking a shower to get ready for the next day
Setting out clothes for the next day
Making sure that all of my homework is done
Going to sleep by midnight to wake up at 8 in order to get plenty of rest
Repeat
It is a pretty set routine every day which can be quite difficult to maintain but living at home and sleeping in an environment that you are most comfortable in is much more sustainable than being with a roommate in a place that often does not sleep properly Creating a set routine for yourself is a key element to succeed in college
Fostering Healthy Sleep Habits
Students often have roommates which will essentially make you rely on someone elses sleep schedule It does not give you the full potential to create a set routine that it would while living at home
It is a proven fact that students are more successful in the classroom with a full nights rest Sleeping in an area that you have designed and created to your own comfort is much better than a small dorm room
Like myself there are many others that find the importance of having a peaceful and comfortable place to sleep at night and it is not always the easiest thing to do in a new and busy environment
Remaining at your own home will help create a healthy space to continue to get at least eight hours of sleep
Self Care Comes In Many Forms
When someone thinks of self care they usually dont think about the word sleep Something that I have learned throughout my college years is that you need to put yourself first and find a proper sleep schedule Finding time in your busy schedule to relax and let your body wind down is essential to success
Find time to get your schoolwork done before it is too late and time to go to bed The worst mistake that one can make is getting in bed late at night and then doing their school work If you dont allow your brain time to wind down it will be even harder to fall asleep which will lead to exhaustion the next day
Never do schoolwork in bed Your bed is your temple and bringing stress into that area will cause unnecessary stress
Take at least an hour before it is time for bed to unwind and relax to get yourself prepared for a long day of classes whether it is taking an extra long shower doing a hobby that you enjoy watching tv anything that makes you feel calm
Those are only a few reasons why it is more beneficial to commute to college rather than living on campus This does not even go into detail about the price difference between living on and off campus Finding comfort within your own space will create better habits in and out of the classroom which is what being a commuter can provide Everyone has their own opinion about this topic but in the long run it will help not only mentally but financially Listen to your body and find a routine Sleep is an essential element to every college student and that begins with the comfort of your surroundings
All the advice above is great but sometimes it doesnt help your sleep issues Then its time to go see a doctor and get professional help Insomnia might be a symptom of something else or your chronic stress became so chronic that you cant feel it anymore only the consequences of it If things get serious dont be afraid to ask for help
Sleep disorders are way too common in modern society But the good news is that they are mostly curable Sometimes its enough to change your daily schedule get some good habits or treat your anxiety to get a healthy good sleep and increase the quality of your life dramatically
By following a few sleep hygiene practices on a nightly basis youre almost guaranteed to get more fulfilling sleep at night and be more awake and alert during the day
If however youre practicing these hygiene tips and still finding yourself feeling tired and sluggish during the day it could be a sign of a sleep disorder
If you believe that your sleep troubles are being caused by a sleep disorder contact your local sleep clinic for a consultation with a sleep specialist At The Alaska Sleep Clinic we specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of sleep disorders and have helped thousands of Alaskans improve the quality of their sleep
Quality sleep is directly linked to your overall health and if youre not getting enough of it give us a call 907 770 9104 and let us help you discover the cause of your sleep problems
About the Author Taryn Martzall is a senior from Muncie Ind majoring in public relations and minoring in social media marketing Taryn is a second year associate with Fifth Street Communications® a student run public relations agency at Anderson University
