Image: Daria Shevtsova//pexels.com

By: Sarah Hofstedt, CSUN Public Health Intern

Sleep deprivation is a major source of stress for college students; only 12% of CSUN students report getting enough sleep on a regular basis. Last minute study sessions and due-at-midnight assignments have claimed many nights, and many people are left wondering how they can get their sleep schedule under control. Stress and sleep problems are closely related, but there is one trick that may alleviate the issues caused by a problematic sleep schedule:

Go to bed at 10 PM.

Really? That’s it? When we break it down, it makes sense. Going to bed at 10 PM means a good seven to eight hours of sleep before waking up at 5 or 6 AM. Having a consistent bedtime and waketime is associated with better academic performance, and getting up early means having time to work out or meditate before starting the day. The stress hormone cortisol is also prone to spiking when we are overtired and stressed, making it hard to sleep restfully or even sleep at all. Humans have a natural cortisol cycle, and 10 PM is when cortisol starts to really taper off, and going to bed as soon as you feel sleepy can prevent an interruption to this natural signal for sleep. The human body is wired to go to sleep when it’s dark and wake up when there’s light (which is why it is recommended to switch off electronics before bed), but staying awake for too long past dark can reactivate cortisol, making it hard to fall and stay asleep. By following the body’s natural desire to sleep after dark, we may find it easier to sleep regularly, and improve our health as a result.