By Jess Carnprobst
At the beginning of this semester, I set a goal for myself to stress less and sleep more. It’s no secret that in the past I’ve had a very unhealthy and irregular sleep schedule, as many of us college students do. However, my health was compromised and I was so much more stressed. So, this semester, I put my sleep and health above everything else and I must say, I’ve never felt better. I’d even go as far as to say that this has been my best semester yet. Getting eight hours of sleep each night has influenced my semester in many ways.
I’ve realized that your health should always come first. No test or no paper is worth staying up until 4 am. It’s just not worth it. I started doing work earlier instead of putting it off, and when it comes to midnight, it’s time to put the work down and just go to bed. If you’re doing your work early, it will still be there when you get up after a well-rested night. Also, your work will be a lot better if you’re doing it after a full night’s sleep.
I don’t know about you, but the feeling of a good night’s sleep is incomparable to anything else. Sleeping is the best way to get energy the next day. I feel automatically energized every morning, even before my daily cup of coffee. Feeling rested as you get ready in the morning instead of fighting the urge to jump back in bed is guaranteed to make your day a lot better.
Along the lines of sleep providing energy, sleep makes you happier and more positive. When your body isn’t constantly being drained, you feel a heck of a lot better. Before this semester, I have never woken up with more positivity than I do now. This natural happiness helps me to try my hardest each day with a genuine interest.
Above all, my semester is now over, which usually leads to me entering into a coma for about a week. This semester, I’m as energized and positive as I was in August. I feel accomplished, and ready for a productive winter break. It’s a really good feeling to be rested. It’s life high that carries with me each day, and I’m not going to lose that any time soon. Sleeping is good for you. Don’t let the stress of college put your health at risk. Sleep, sleep, sleep and I promise, you will thank yourself in the end.
Jess is a junior majoring in strategic communication, minoring in marketing and receiving a certificate in global leadership. After graduation, she hopes to travel the world and work at a boutique PR agency. Follow her on Twitter @jess_carnprobst