It isn't unusual for students nod off in class or fall asleep buried in a textbook, but when their heads finally hit the pillows after a long day, many can't seem to get a good night's rest.
According to the National Institute of Health, individuals require six to eight hours of sleep on average each night, yet many college students spend these hours wide awake.
Whether it happens only once in a while, or if it is a chronic problem, insomnia has become a common dilemma for many students.
Insomnia is defined by the NIH as an inadequate or poor quality of sleep due to difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently through the night with difficulty returning to sleep, or waking up too early in the morning and un-refreshing sleep.
Stress, environmental noise, extreme temperatures, and side effects from medication can all cause transient insomnia, along with many other factors like an unsteady sleep/wake schedule caused by jet lag.
Alexandria Hassan, senior social sciences major, said she has had problems sleeping at least two or three nights a week since she began college.
"A lot of it has to do with stress," said Hassan. "I think about all the problems I have and what I need to do to get them done. I'm always tired because of it."
Although insomnia is typically more common in females and senior citizens, experts estimate that around one in ten people suffer from insomnia on a regular basis or over a long period of time.
According to the National Institute of Health, a lack of sleep can reduce your concentration skills, make you more irritable, lower your immune system and eventually lead to an inability to cope with everyday activities.
Insomnia is not thought to lead to any long-term health problems, but continuous lack of sleep can cause serious short-term problems and can be, well, exhausting.
Some students say that a lack of sleep can be contributed to the amount of schoolwork they are required to do.
"When I'm stressed I find myself lying awake worrying about assignments and deadlines, and being tired makes it worse. Being away from home can make it hard to sleep and it was hard to adjust, especially at the beginning of the semester," said Kerry Higton, junior American studies major.
The NIH recommends relaxation techniques as a way to cure minor or frequent insomnia. In order to achieve natural sleep, it is important to be completely relaxed. Total relaxation can be achieved with a hot bath, a warm drink or deep breathing exercises. Stretching exercises can also be beneficial.
Frequent insomnia can be cured with prescription medication, but usually only when it can be attributed to a specific cause such as bereavement or jet lag.
Many students who haven't seen the experts' suggestions say they have their own remedies for insomnia on any given night.
"When I can't sleep I listen to music because that usually helps," said Higton.
Some prescribe to natural fixes and sedatives, including herbs like lavender, chamomile and passionflower. Drops of relaxing essential oils can increase relaxation, according to the NIH.
While traditional, old-fashioned methods might work, NIH experts say the best tip that students make sure their bed is comfortable and that it is in a dark, well-ventilated room. Make the room as quiet as possible, though this might be difficult for some who live in dorms. Often it is a roommates' habits that interfere with being able to get a sufficient amount of sleep.
"My sleeping patterns can be erratic, and usually I find myself staying up late and sleeping in. My roommate always has music on. It gets quite noisy sometimes," said Varun Chopra, sophomore computer engineering major.
While being a student, erratic sleeping patterns often become customary. Sharing your bedroom, mid terms and finals, financial worries and work related stress can all prevent you from getting the necessary amount of sleep.
Recent NIH studies say that with a few simple adjustments to normal bedtime habits, most students will find themselves able to sleep through each night, even the most restless ones.
