Sleep

A proper night’s sleep? If only!

Waking up every day feeling energized after a great night’s rest – sounds like heaven! Getting enough sleep is important, especially after a long day of studying. Yet there are many students who are having difficulty with it. In fact, there are more than 1.5 million people in the Netherlands who are having trouble sleeping. Most of them have trouble falling asleep, are waking up repeatedly at night or experience nightmares continuously. Others, on the other hand, sleep excessively and can’t seem to stay awake during the day.

I’m having trouble sleeping. What should I do?

There are several things that promote a good night’s sleep. We would like to list them for you:

• Having a steady sleeping rhythm – try to have fixed times for going to sleep and waking up. – try to have fixed times for going to sleep and waking up.
• Sleep an average of 8 hours a night.
• Having trouble falling asleep? Don’t keep tossing and turning. Instead, have a cup of herbal tea and try falling asleep again after.
• Make sure you exercise enough during the day.
• Don’t look at your alarm clock too often. Seeing your alarm clock can actually increase your anxiety.
• Avoid using caffeine and nicotine (coffee, tea, chocolate, cigarettes) after 6 p.m.
• Try to relax an hour before going to sleep. Put away your mobile phone and avoid watching television or using your computer.
• Also, put aside your study assignments at least an hour before going to bed. The same goes for studying for exams.
• Using alcohol as a “nightcap” does not enhance your night’s sleep. In fact, it can actually make sleeping problems worse.

How your student coach can help you with your sleeping problems

If you are having trouble sleeping, feel free to contact us – preferably not during the night, we too love a good night’s rest. Together we will try to determine the underlying cause of your sleeping problems, such as the presence of stress or an unhealthy lifestyle. Depending on the cause, we will help you set up an action plan that makes you feel comfortable. This may involve various tools and solutions, such as the use of positive psychological interventions, mindfulness, and breathing exercises.