By Carly Kimball
Contributing Writer

Q: I have a busy schedule managing classes, work, studying, and my social life; I don’t have time to get eight hours of sleep per night! Is getting enough sleep really that important?

A: Yes! Getting eight hours of sleep per night for adults is crucial. Adequate sleep has many health benefits, such as improving memory, reducing inflammation, increasing creativity, improving grades, increasing attention span, maintaining healthy weight, decreasing stress, preventing car accidents, and increasing your life span.

It is extremely important to make getting an adequate amount of sleep a priority in your life.

A few simple tips can help you improve your poor sleeping patterns.\

•  Focus on sticking to a sleep schedule; being consistent reinforces your body’s sleep cycle.
• Make a bedtime ritual to help relax your body and prepare for sleep.
• Pay attention to what you eat and drink during the day; nicotine and caffeine are stimulants and disrupt your body’s sleep pattern
• Include physical activity, manage stress, and limit daytime naps to promote a better night’s sleep.
• Avoid over-the-counter sleep aids; they may be helpful for an occasional sleepless night, but should not be depended on every night.

Have a question you would like to ask? Email askasimmonsnurse@gmail.com.  For more healthy living tips, listen to Simmons College Radio  (simmons.edu/radio).