College is great! There are no parents, you're in charge of your own schedule, and the only real commitments are to your classes (because let's be honest, if you don't pass, mom and dad will pull you out of school). Awesome! We can stay up until 4 am hanging out with people and then get up at 7 am for classes.

PAUSE!!!

The average adult needs 7.5-9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. So what does that mean? Functioning at your best is the ability to ace that test, being able to stay focused and awake in class, and getting your homework done faster. Morale of the story? Getting enough sleep will cut down significantly on your study time because you'll be rested enough to use your brain effectively.

Now how do you get enough sleep in college?

• Set a specific bed time and don't push it unless you have to.
• Know whether or not you're an early riser and set your schedule accordingly. (If you like to stay up late, take classes that are later in the day, not at 8am).
• Don't procrastinate, if you get your homework done during the day, you can go to bed earlier.
• Exercise, this can mean anything from walking to class to working out everyday. If you exercise, you'll be tired by the end of the day, and won't be awake until 4am.
• Clear your mind before bed. Do something that clears your mind from the days problems. It's easier to fall asleep when you aren't stressed.

Sweet Dreams!