By Raven Ash

It’s 3 a.m. and here I am writing this story. However, this is not a typical college all-nighter study session. I am not rushing to meet a deadline or cramming my brain with information for tomorrow’s big exam. This is because I rolled out of bed at 2 p.m. today.

The COVID-19 virus has been taking over our lives for weeks now. Our work is the not the same, our school is not same, and our old routines are almost non-existent. Because of our disrupted routines, our sleep schedules are far from normal.

Daniela Mancilla, QU sophomore, uses sleep to cope with being secluded to her home.

“Ever since I am home now and can’t go out, I have noticed that all I do is sleep during the day and then at night I am wide awake. I feel like I sleep away my days because there is nothing to do,” Mancilla said.

While sleeping excessively during the day may be keeping you out of public and away from the virus, the unhealthy sleep schedules that many of us are adopting during stay-at-home orders can be dangerous for our mental and physical health. According to littlethings.com, too much sleep can potentially lead to diabetes, inflammation, depression, brain fog, obesity, and heart disease.

Aside from the health issues that could arise from our disrupted circadian rhythm, QU students say abnormal sleep schedules are interfering with their education.

“I find it really hard to get motivated to do my classes even though they are online because I sleep a lot during the day because I do not have to get up for physical classes. After I wake up, it’s a struggle to get myself to open my laptop and get assignments done,” Kylee Waddell said.

While it may seem like a challenge to get your sleep schedule back on track, according to timesnownews.com, there are a few simple steps that will get you heading in the right direction.

Creating and following a daily routine of any kind will create a sense of normalcy and make it easier to establish a set ‘bed-time’. This routine can be as simple as creating time blocks for watching tv, making lunch and doing homework.

To stop oversleeping in the morning, start by setting alarms 15-30 minutes earlier every day until you are able to wake up early. Forcing yourself to wake up early and stay awake until the evening will make it easier to sleep around your set ‘bed-time’.

Eating healthy meals throughout the day and getting enough exercise will make it much easier to fall asleep at a decent hour at night and wake early in the morning.

By following these steps, students may be able to save their sleep schedules, look out for their health and increase productivity.