Freedom! Campus is almost synonymous with that heady word. In the excitement of living independent for the first time—no more well-meaning (or just plain mean) “grownups” telling you what to do—living it up tends to take precedence over living well.
Once the initial fun is over and assignments and exams begin to exert their pressure, a few bad habits have crept in. Sleep, hygiene and good diet, for example, may be neglected as you try to squeeze a little work into your hectic social whirl. But these little habits have a habit of interfering with your success on campus, both in class and out.
You are young. Make sure you are fit too—in mind, body and soul—by taking care of yourself. To help you, Campo will be bringing you regular tips.
Zzzzz
The most important requirements for physical health are sufficient sleep, enough exercise and a healthy diet. Probably the most neglected of these among young people is sleep, so why don’t you start with a good nap. But wait! Before you do so, read on to find out more.
A giraffe manages with just 30 minutes of sleep a day but we mere humans need far more. By the age of 20, the average adult needs about 7–9 hours a night. Sleepyheads need more while true night owls manage with less.
What about the notion that great people require less sleep? It is true that some very successful people sleep less—Barack Obama, manages on an average of 6 hours a night, Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter, on 4–6 hours and Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, required a mere 3–4 hours nightly slumber.
However there are equally successful people who make sure they get enough shut-eye, including Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, actress Halle Berry and talk show host Ellen Degeneres. Bill Gates used to work through the night but realized he is sharper, more creative and happier on 7 hours sleep a night. You be the judge.
Sleeping in stages
As we sleep, we go through 5 stages.
| Stage 1: We fall asleepStage 2: A period of light sleep
Stage 3: We sleep more deeply. For all the sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers out there, this is the stage in which you walk or talk. Stage 4: The most restful stage—we are deeply asleep Stage 5: The rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep—although our eyes are shut, they move rapidly. This is the stage during which we dream. |
Why we need sleep
Sleep aids concentration, problem solving, creative thinking and memory. You see the connection here? Your brain needs sleep. So sleep aids success in your studies.
That is not all—our bodies need sleep to fight infections and repair injuries. In fact, add sleep to your beauty regime since it will gift you with bright eyes, healthy skin and shiny hair.
Your brain and body don’t shut down while you sleep. They are actually busy building up your energy reserves for the next day. Lack of sleep makes people tired, irritable and depressed, affecting our health and also our social lives—none of those traits are friend magnets.
How to sleep well
Good night, all!
Campo 