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Sleep is important, we love it (especially here at Nerdify), we spend a third of lives doing it and yet lots of people have a problem waking up every morning.

Lack of sleep is a real problem and has been linked to short-memory loss, difficulty concentrating and depression. According to a recent study, from the Rand Corporation, United States economy loses staggering $411 billion a year due to lack sleep among the working population.

An average person needs roughly 7-8 hours of bedtime to be in tip-top shape. But simply lying in bed won’t cut it. The quality of sleep is equally important.

We’ll share some tips with you, on how to get the best sleep possible every single night:

1. Keep a constant sleep cycle

Our bodies have a natural biological clock, called “circadian rhythms” that basically say when you should be awake and when you should be sleeping. Messing with it will make you tired all day long. Try focusing on going to bed (and waking up) at roughly the same time. That way, your body will adjust its melatonin production ( the hormone responsible for making you feel sleepy) to your sleep cycle.

2. Switch off your laptop/mobile phone

Our screens emit “blue spectrum light” which makes our bodies think it’s “daylight” suppressing the melatonin production, hence you stay awake past midnight checking your FB or watching YouTube. This is EXACTLY the reason why staring at your mobile phone or laptop when going to bed, is a terrible idea. Thus, 1 hour before bedtime – put your mobile phone away and switch off your laptop!

3. Take a shower and cool your room

Various studies have shown, that the best sleep comes at around 68 degrees °F (approx. 20 °C) room temperature. So try cooling your room before bedtime. Another thing you can do is taking a quick hot shower. This will help you relax and let your eyes rest before going to bed.

4. Read a book or meditate

The last 30 minutes before bed should really be all about relaxing and preparing your mind for sleep. Clearing your mind with meditation or yoga, reading a book will quickly take a toll on you and you’ll be falling asleep shortly. You can also sniff some lavender essential oils! Many studies have indicated that breathing in lavender help people relax and get better quality sleep.

5. Once you wake up – get some sunlight

As discussed previously – melatonin is the hormone that makes you sleepy. Our body starts producing it when the sun goes down. To STOP melatonin production – get some sunlight right after you jump out of bed, production of the melatonin will stop and your body will know that it’s time to wake up!

Here at Nerdify, we help you succeed during your academic years. We think it’s incredibly important students achieve their goals because education is one of the biggest investments one makes in his life. If you feel like the pressure is mounting up and you need a helping hand – get in touch and we’ll make sure you have enough sleep today 😉

Unless you are one of those home-schooled students or have already received a degree by joining an online course, distance learning will seem intimidating and confusing at first. Most students complain that distance learning differs by having more tasks and responsibility because you are not one of many learners in the classroom and have to prove that you have mastered something. Moreover, an average online campus is not easy to master and takes some time to learn. Thankfully, there are tricks that will make your distance learning fun and less stressful!

Use Scheduling Apps. This simple fact is repeated over and over, yet remote learning is impossible without a good planner application like Bounty Tasker or the famous EverNote. Both solutions have a calendar, reminders, color codes for diverse task types or courses, and a way to synchronize the app with the majority of famous apps. Bounty Tasker lets you turn your plans into a game and receive awards. Learn as you gamify your experience and reward yourself for achievements!

Engage in Collaboration. Since we are already away from each other, which is more than relevant now, organize your own or participate in already existing collaboration projects where you can study and learn in a group of people. Be it a Psychology major or even Mechanical Engineering, create Skype sessions among the students, become a team leader, talk to each other, and learn in a fun way!

The Outline Trick. We all know how challenging it is to keep sane with all these lengthy digital books and a number of links that have to be checked upon. As you start with an online assignment, create an outline. In simple terms, use it as an intro for your task where you create a description and write down the thesis, if relevant. Include keywords, author names, good quotes, just anything that will help you remember the most important.

A Personal Backup Plan. Since the majority of distance learning happens online, remember to have a backup of all your files. For example, you can use DropBox to keep all your documents safe. This way you can always return and have a look through the files. Alternatively, add the Scannable app to keep all your handwriting safe and clear. Now the fun part begins when you create an Instagram channel where you tell of your learning experience and become an influencer for students like you!

Free Online Courses. You may say something within the lines of no more homework. However, there is some academic fun you can join! Check out Coursera or Udemy for great free courses where you can double your major’s key concepts. It always helps to understand what you learn without grades or any deadlines when you have additional instruction. Join Academic Earth for free online video lectures from the best world’s universities. It is a good alternative to the boring assignments as you can sit back and watch when and what you can!

Ah, college. The phase of life most hyped-about—from Hollywood depicting non-stop partying to wistful middle-aged people admitting that’s when they peaked. While university can be a fantastic time for developing friendships, finding your academic passions, and discovering yourself, that’s a lot of pressure to put on you for the next four years— especially because your growth as a person certainly doesn’t stop at the age of 21. Nerdify reviews team agrees your college social life will differ significantly from that in high school—especially if you’ve been learning remotely as of late and are starting university in person. Nerdify reviews different advice on how to hit the ground running at your new campus:

1. Students Spend Orientation and Syllabus Week Meeting as Many People as Possible

When you first get to campus, everyone will be in the same shoes as you as Reddit users state—most likely in a new town without friends, and looking to make some as quickly as possible. Ephemeral friend groups are established rapidly, formed merely based on proximity. If you’re shy, your roommate and/or suitemates are an excellent social foundation to branch outward from as you get more comfortable with your surroundings. The single most helpful tip for gaining a vibrant social life is to spend as little time in your dorm as possible.

2. A Great Way to Meet People is to Take Advantage of all Your Amenities and Campus Celebrations

As the semester begins, your campus will be hosting numerous events—think spirit day pep rallies, craft activities, career fairs, and more. While many of them may be cheesy, go nevertheless because you’ll likely find other like-minded people there that you can bond over the cheesiness (and “free” food) with. As for the other amenities like the gym, dining halls, library, etc., go to them each at least a few times because, for one, you’re already paying for them, and two, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with fellow students in these locations. A great place to find new people is at the initial meetings of campus clubs. Even though you can’t join a dozen clubs, you can still be introduced to people you want to hang out with outside of the meetings.

3. Don’t Feel Discouraged if You Don’t Immediately Find “Your People”

While there is an initial rush of buddy-making at the start of school, many of those friendships go as quickly as they came— which is not a negative thing in the slightest, say Nerdify reviews experts. Early on, there is an unspoken agreement that striking up small talk with someone sitting next to you in class, waiting on the machines in the laundry room, or standing behind you in line at the dining hall is an invitation to friendship that’s not seen as awkward or forced from what we can see on Reddit. Even if they don’t become your best chums, by spending time with them at other gatherings, eventually through an interconnected web of acquaintances, you’ll find the people that you mesh with seamlessly.

4. You’re Likely to Have Multiple Friend Groups

One of the most beautiful things about college is that with your class size likely being in the thousands instead of the hundreds like back in high school, you’re going to be able to have multiple groups of friends quite easily. Reddit users, for example, say you’ll have dormmates to make food within the communal kitchen, classmates to study with at the library, people with whom you go out to events, and friends who would rather watch movies with you on a rainy day—a friend for any and every occasion.

5. With a Large Number of People Comes Less Gossip

A pleasant surprise you’ll find is that because there are just so many students, things like campus-wide cliques and rumors just aren’t feasible. Sure, you have the people in sports that Hollywood might call “jocks”, but with a myriad of students, no one friend group consists of the ultimate “popular people.” Someone sitting alone in the dining hall isn’t seen as a “loner”—they’re just a person who has time between classes that’s grabbing a bite to eat. Outside of someone’s classes (of which there are hundreds) or friend groups (of which there are also hundreds), people have no idea who the other people on campus are—so even when there is gossip, it doesn’t travel far. Nerdify reviews team suggests it can be chalked up to maturity or people being more self-assured that they don’t feel the need to put others down, but college students have better things to do than make or care about baseless rumors about others.

6. Don’t Be Afraid To Express Your Authentic Self

Being one among thousands, you can easily be a wallflower or just face in the crowd if that’s what you’re most comfortable with. However, if there’s something special about you that you want everyone to know—be sure to show it. In all honesty, the quirkiest and most eccentric people on campus—the ones who have funky hair, wear Heelys to class, dress up in Halloween costumes in April, and play the bagpipes in the park—are the people treated like celebrities on campus and talked about with reverence years after graduation, you can find a lot of stories that prove that on Reddit. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not to fit in with a specific group—there are so many friends to be had that you’ll be able to find the people who make college feel like a second home in no time.