Hey dorm room inhabitants, are you feeling sleep deprived? Could be stress, too much partying or it could be your dorm room. We can’t help you with the first two causes, but for the 3rd, keep on a-readin’.
Dr. Michael J. Breus gives us his best sensory tips for making your dorm room sleep-friendly, which will, of course, improve your GPA, keep you from gaining that freshman 15 and make you more likable and attractive to hottie sitting next to you in Señora Martini’s Spanish class. (Sorry, flashback.) Here is the CliffsNotes version of the doc’s tips
- Sight/light: Take advantage of ANY natural light coming from the window(s) as you can. Use no more than 300 watts of unnatural light in the evening hours, turning it down to about 65 watts when you’re winding down for sleepy-time.
- Sound: Use ear plugs to drown out the noise or a sound machine or ‘nature sounds’ music to relax. Consider vibrating alarm clocks if you and your roommate get up at different times.
- Touch: Bring you pillow from home. A mattress topper might be a good investment too.
- Smell: Aromatherapy staples like lavender, rose and chamomile can help you sleep better. Instead of using candles, which are a fire hazard, opt for sprays or essential oils.
- Taste: Experiment with your late-night meals. If pizza keeps you up one night, try Cheerios the next. And ALWAYS avoid caffeinated drinks close to bedtime.
For more dorm room makeover tips, as well as some quick ideas to help you survive living in cramped quarters, check out this article on HuffPo.
