Your bed: your greatest enemy and only chance at survival

Kymberly Kuras, Contributor

We have all the time in the world, yet we are running out of time. How do we take control of our time when it continues to slip away from us? How do we manage to jump out of bed if there is nothing to spring up for? How can we be productive when the days drag on forever but are gone in a split second?

This constant struggle of repeat and rewind is exhausting us all. This is why it is so important to adopt new things into our daily routines. Ideally, this means picking up a new hobby or interest to keep you busy, but it could also mean a whole bunch of different things. However, I believe the most significant change we must make lies within something we all crave. 

Sleep! 

Although it is easy to fall into an unhealthy sleep schedule, it is critical we manage our hours of sleep. Dr. Boris Dubrovsky, a psychologist who studies sleep, recently wrote about the significance of healthy sleep for our psychological stability in times like these. He highlights the importance of waking up with morning sunlight at the same time everyday. Additionally, he discusses ways to differentiate the bedroom from a place of leisure and a place of work. 

These steps and strategies that Dr. Dubrovsky suggests are crucial in maintaining a positive wellbeing. Not only does a healthy sleep schedule translate to a healthy mind, it also brings a productive lifestyle. Instead of falling into bad habits, we should create new and proficient routines so we come out of quarantine ready for life’s new challenges. 

One of these ‘new habits’ is to become a morning person. Yes, it sounds impossible, but once you appreciate the serenity and productiveness that morning time brings, it will be hard to go back! This means wake up early! Let the sun wake you up and attend all those early google meets that you used to sleep through. 

A huge number of studies have been done to prove that ‘morning people’ are statistically more productive. Considering productiveness is the key to surviving this quarantine, we all need to adopt a ‘morning person’ routine. This will allow us to achieve more throughout the day and leave us feeling accomplished. 

Furthermore, if we pack our mornings with work and activity, it will help us fall asleep faster and earlier. Falling asleep early will only encourage a healthy sleep cycle and will prevent you from feeling isolated in the nighttime. In fact, anxiety and worry increase at night, according to psychologytoday.com. Therefore, going to bed at a reasonable hour may help prevent these feelings and improve mental health as a whole.

I can personally attest to this method considering I have completely transformed my own sleep schedule during quarantine. When this all began, I developed an extremely unhealthy sleep cycle and it impacted my schoolwork and mood. Once I realized I was falling into this bad habit, I set my alarm for 8 a.m. Now, I wake up early and complete almost all of my schoolwork early in the afternoon. Furthermore, I have even pushed many of my friends to adopt this routine and it has made an extremely beneficial impact on them all. 

Sleep is the answer to all your worries and issues. But, sleep also has the power to put a weight on your shoulders. It is the perfect balance of wake, sleep, repeat that will bring fulfillment and growth to your quarantine mindset.