by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: March 12, 2011   Last Updated: March 15, 2011

College life may be a fun adventure for you, as you leave the proverbial nest that your parents have provided for so long, but it is also a time of learning and preparing for your future.  If you live in a noisy dorm, it can be difficult to near impossible to get enough sleep, though, and this lack of proper rest will have an effect on your ability to learn which will likely be reflected in your grades.  The following are five things that you can do to get more sleep, no matter what the rest of your dorm is doing.

*Roommate Selection

Your roommate is going to have a huge effect on your ability to sleep since this person shares your direct space.  If you know someone who will be going to the same college as you, you have a great opportunity to request him or her as a roommate if this person is someone that you know will be quiet and respectful of your need for sleep.  Otherwise, you may be able to speak with an advisor or dorm leader prior to the school year regarding your need for and desire to get adequate sleep, asking him or her to suggest a roommate that will be compatible with you.

*Noise-Cancelling Headphones

If you can hear the noise from the rest of the dorm inside your room, you will need to take further steps to rid your mind of the racket.  There are noise-cancelling headphones on the market today that are very high quality and really do work for eliminating background noises of all sorts, including the sort that is coming from the rest of the dorm.  These headphones aren’t cheap, but they are effective and worth the investment for you to get your degree and move forward a better-educated and prepared young adult ready to begin your dream career.

*Evening Routine

Even in a noisy dorm, you are going to get to sleep faster and have better sleep by adhering to a routine in the evening which promotes healthy rest.  About one or two hours before you are ready to fall asleep, begin to prepare your mind and body by discontinuing the use of food and drink, doing something that relaxes you, turning off all electronic devices, and get into your sleeping attire.  By doing the same things at the same time every night, you will train your mind and body to fall asleep depending on your behavior, rather than that of your dorm mates. 

*Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural product that can help you to get to sleep and to stay asleep.  Unlike many of the over-the-counter sleep aids, however, there is no chance of addiction or morning grogginess with this substance.  Taking a couple of melatonin tablets every night will help you to get sleep even in the noisiest of dorms.

*Communicate

If you have tried all that you can think of to do that is within your power, you may have to take another step if you are to get any rest.  Try speaking with the people who are preventing you from sleeping, but do so in a courteous way.  If this doesn’t work either, you may need to go to someone in a position of authority.

Dorm life is often wonderful, but it is not always the easiest life.  Anytime there are a variety of different people in one area, there is going to be a need for compromise and understanding.  Life in a noisy dorm is one of the difficulties that you may encounter during your academic career.  Taking the above five steps can help you to get sleep in the midst of all of the noisy activity.

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