sleeping patterns messed up since uni

what the title says. My sleeping patterns are horrible since coming to uni. I am feeling tired around 5pm/6pm and sleeping through till 9pm/10pm. Yesterday, I felt tired at about 10pm but I was with friends so I felt rude saying I was too tired and had to sleep. I went back to my room at about 11:30pm, had a shower, brushed my teeth, went to bed about 2am and could not fall asleep. I did work, I read a book, I felt tired doing them, then I got into bed and couldn't fall asleep. I eventually fell asleep just before 6am.

I am also feeling tired during the whole day, from late morning all the way through the afternoon and early evening. I always feel like having daytime naps but it messes up my sleeping pattern. I tried without the naps but I went beyond the point of tiredness and still couldn't sleep. Please help!

what the title says. My sleeping patterns are horrible since coming to uni. I am feeling tired around 5pm/6pm and sleeping through till 9pm/10pm. Yesterday, I felt tired at about 10pm but I was with friends so I felt rude saying I was too tired and had to sleep. I went back to my room at about 11:30pm, had a shower, brushed my teeth, went to bed about 2am and could not fall asleep. I did work, I read a book, I felt tired doing them, then I got into bed and couldn't fall asleep. I eventually fell asleep just before 6am.

I am also feeling tired during the whole day, from late morning all the way through the afternoon and early evening. I always feel like having daytime naps but it messes up my sleeping pattern. I tried without the naps but I went beyond the point of tiredness and still couldn't sleep. Please help!

If you find yourself unable to sleep, don't get up and do work, or read - as this can make your brain active and so you will find it harder to drop off, even if you feel physically exhausted. It sounds like you're not particularly active during the day - which could be contributing to your day time tiredness, but also your inability to sleep. Try taking some light exercise when you are feeling a little tired during the afternoon - a walk for example. Avoid stimulants such as coffee and and tea, and although drinking alcohol may seem like a good idea to help you get to sleep - studies have shown that the quality of sleep you get after drinking is much worse than usual (less REM sleep).

It is a good idea to have a shower/bath in the evening, and help yourself unwind - especially if you have been busy during the day. Get yourself into a routine and you'll soon start feeling tired around the same time every night. For example - stop working before dinner/around 8pm and take the next couple of hours to wind down. Watch a favourite TV show, or film with a hot milky drink (caffeine free of course) after having a nice hot shower. This heats your core body temperature up, and once you start to cool again, you will start to feel tired. Scientists believe this is linked back to when our minds were still primitive (i.e cavemen) and the drop in evening temperature meant that we were to sleep. Our body temperatures also drop while we sleep, so unless you are absolutely freezing - avoid getting into bed too early, or watching TV lying down as this will heat your bed up (same with hot water bottles). This will also help keep your sleeping area separate from your living area, i.e your work/reading/TV area - so when your head hits the pillow you know that it is time to sleep.

I hope this helps