I want to come back as my dog in the next life. She sleeps most of the day with several breaks for exercise. She is fed on schedule and doesn’t have to watch her weight because someone does it for her. She makes regular visits to her doctor where her health care is fully paid for, and when she gets something stuck in her paw it is quickly removed. She never has to decide what to wear and she can roll in the grass whenever she wants with no regard for whether she has gotten her coat dirty. She is groomed monthly. If the weather is bad she is quickly wiped down the minute she re-enters her house and then she is ready for a treat and another nap.

Those who have trouble sleeping can learn a lot from our animals. They rest easy because they haven’t a care in the world. No matter what happened during the day they don’t let lingering bad feelings upset them at night. They don’t eat heavy food or drink alcohol before bed, they aren’t over stimulated by their electronics, they get plenty of exercise and sunlight during the day, never stay up too late and always find a comfortable place to sleep.

We humans need lots of sleep to be healthy. It strengthens our immunity, reduces stress, improves memory and concentration. In children (and puppies) sleep releases growth hormones. And sleep repairs damage to cells so you always look better after a good night’s sleep.

When you are in school learning new things, having enough sleep helps you absorb more information. Afterwards, when you study, taking a nap or getting a good nights rest helps you recall what you learned much better than if you are tired. Exercise has a lot of similar benefits. It improves your mood, sharpens your memory, and helps you sleep better. So, in addition to cramming for finals make sure you schedule time for sleep and exercise and you will do much better on your tests.