How to fix your sleep schedule
By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24
I used to be an insomniac. I couldn’t fall asleep no matter how hard I tried, and I would stay awake until 3-5 a.m. each night. My body felt tired, but my mind was lit up worrying about school.
We all know that sleep is important. According to the CDC, teens should get about 8 to 10 hours per night, and adults should get 7+ hours a night. Sleep is important as it supports your health and well-being. According to the National Institutes of Health , “Getting inadequate sleep over time can raise your risk for chronic (long-term) health problems. It can also affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others.” Sleep also affects your hormone cycle, metabolism, respiratory, immune and heart systems as well.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder, which is “... caused by stress or changes in your schedule or environment,” according to the NIH. Chronic insomnia can affect your memory, concentration, and put you at higher risk of heart disease and blood pressure.
When I started my sleep journey, I would fall asleep between 3 and 5 a.m. and then wake up at 9 a.m. I wanted to fix this and get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, so I slowly started to go to bed earlier each week by starting my night routine 30 minutes earlier than the week before. I also played calming music and redecorated my room to feel content and help remove my worries and anxiety.
I also shut off my computer at a set time to unplug from work. With the help of a little melatonin, every time I woke up with more than 8 hours of sleep, I felt content, and my body wasn’t tired. I also felt more excited and ready to get out of bed and take on the day.
By setting a solid bedtime, I now go to bed between 10:30-11:30 p.m. With 8+ hours of sleep, I no longer need caffeine or naps. I also don’t lose my train of thought as often, and I’m overall happier with myself knowing that sleep is a priority for me.
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