Finding Rest Mid Semester

During this time in the semester, your student is likely exhausted, tired, and concerned about being successful in college. They may be giving everything that they can but are struggling to have the motivation and energy to maintain the same enthusiasm they had in the beginning of the semester. In last year’s newsletter, the counseling center discussed the role of self-care in supporting a student’s mental health needs. This year we are targeting the need for sleep because a lack of sleep can significantly influence your student’s overall well-being and ability to care for themselves. A healthy amount of sleep is 7 hours a night. Your student may experience a healthy amount of sleep but struggle to maintain this when experiencing stress or other mental health concerns throughout the semester.

Here are some tips that your student may be able to use when struggling with sleep:

1. Find a Quiet and Relaxing place (add in ear plugs if you live in an environment that is louder)
2. Draw your attention to your breathing. Remember to focus on all the details of your breathing (speed, weight, movement, calmness)
3. Validate that your attention will drift and slowly allow it to come back to focusing on your breathing and rest.
4. Lay down how you feel most comfortable.

Here are some extra tips:

1. After 20 minutes of difficulty sleeping, get up and walk around a bit, then come back to your bed to try again.
2. Invest in a weighted blanket
3. Use calming smells and lotions
4. Imagine a place where you feel the most relaxed and bring that image to your mind
5. Try not to eat at least 1-1.5 hours before bed.