Going to sleep early is not always easy. From having too much to get done to losing track of time on your phone, sleep has, unfortunately, become less of a priority. After having a whole school year virtually, maintaining a reasonable sleep schedule can be difficult since students are just recently going back to school in person. Here are three simple tips that will help you hit the hay earlier.

-Tip Number One: Ditch the nighttime scrolling. This might be the hardest one to do, but it can definitely be the most important one to follow. Let’s put our phones away. Not forever, but for at least an hour before you go to sleep. Using your phone before you go to sleep has usually resulted in staying up late and losing track of time. According to The Sleep Foundation, electronic devices emanate blue light that your brain perceives as sunlight, therefore, keeping you up late at night. The best thing to do is to put your phone somewhere far away from you, such as a dresser or nightstand across from your room, after setting your alarms of course. 

-Tip Number Two: Make sure your room is dark and cold. Why dark? Because light can be a distraction while trying to sleep. Why cold? The Sleep Foundation states that going to sleep in a darker, colder environment helps you fall asleep faster. If you feel uncomfortable in a dark room, you can always turn on a very dim light to help put you at ease. 

-Tip Number Three: Skip after-school naps. You may have said to yourself that you were only going to take a 30-minute nap, but you wake up much later than intended. While you may have missed your afternoon plans, you, more importantly, messed up your sleep schedule. According to the American Cancer Society one of the best tips to get a good nights rest is to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. While listening to your bodies needs is important, if a nap is necessary then you should try to limit it to less than 20 minutes.

With the help of these three tips, you can surely be on your way to fixing your sleep schedule and waking up rejuvenated. A good night’s rest not only allows you time in the morning to complete all your tasks, but it is also a good, healthy way to start your day –not to mention, your body will thank you for it!

If you want to learn more about all the benefits and tips for having a healthier sleep schedule visit:

• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/how-to-determine-poor-quality-sleep
• https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/how-to-get-more-sleep.html