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Helping to improve your sleep so you can ace your assignments.
Sleep is your best friend. No, really. You need it everyday, during tough times, and sometimes simply because you need a good snooze. It’s literally what keeps us sane and stable.
In a survey of university students from two UK universities, 46% of participants rated their sleep as ‘fairly bad’ or ‘very bad’. While those terms are subjective, it still highlights the lack of quality sleep in uni students. And no doubt it has a negative effect on academic and personal life.
There might not be a magic cure for bad sleep, but there are many ways that can help encourage better quality sleep — now disclaimer: I’m no medical professional but as a certified bad-sleeper, I have found something that has actually improved my sleep.
Drum roll please… Magnesium.
Jump to:
- Spinach/leafy greens
- Fish
- Dark chocolate
- Nuts and seeds
- Wholegrains (quinoa, brown rice)
- I fall asleepquicker — no more hours waiting for sleep to take me, I can now fall asleep within the hour, normally much less.
- I wake uplessin the night —unless I need a wee (I drink a lot of water).
- My mornings feeleasierandlighter—I’m not a morning person, never have been and likely never will be, but after taking magnesium I find mornings easier and less groggy than before.
- My deep sleep hasimproved—according to my FitBit, I’ve been getting more deep sleep and spending less time awake or in light-sleep.
The fact that these supplements are a 3 in 1 combo, I think have helped encourage overall better sleep.
Each type does something slightly different:
- Magnesium bisglycinate — known for high absorption and more calming, sleep-friendly effects
- Magnesium malate — often linked to energy production and reducing fatigue
- Magnesium citrate — helps with absorption and general magnesium levels
By combining all three, you’re essentially covering multiple bases in one supplement instead of relying on just one form. The idea is better overall bioavailability (how well your body can actually use it) and a more balanced effect.
And the best part is? I used the bulk student discount to make it even cheaper. Winner, winner, better sleep for dinner.
Magnesium supports sleep in a few key ways, helping your body switch into rest mode.
It helps regulate neurotransmitters that calm the nervous system, which includes supporting the activity of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) — basically your brain’s way of slowing things down.
It also plays a role in the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your internal body clock. Balanced melatonin levels = better sleep timing and quality.
As if that wasn’t enough already, magnesium also helps relax muscles and can reduce physical tension, which is ideal if you tend to feel restless at night.
So rather than knocking you out, magnesium helps create the right conditions for sleep to happen naturally, helping you to wake up feeling less groggy.
Magnesium isn’t instant — it works best when it becomes part of your routine and the effects will be more noticeable with consistent use.
Most people take it in the evening, around 30 to 60 minutes before bed. This lines up with your body’s natural wind-down phase and gives it time to start supporting relaxation.
Some people split their dose across the day, but if sleep is your main goal, taking it at night makes the most sense. Taking it with food (after dinner for example) can help reduce any potential stomach sensitivities.
The key thing is consistency. Like most supplements, the benefits build over time rather than happening overnight.
For me using bulk’s 3 in 1 capsules, I take 2 after dinner around 2-3 hours before bed and that seems to be working for me. It might differ from person to person so try a few different times to find what works best.
This one sounds more confusing than it actually is.
Magnesium glycinate and magnesium bisglycinate are essentially the same form. Both mean magnesium is bound to glycine, which improves absorption and adds those calming properties that we’re after.
“Bisglycinate” just refers to the chemical structure (two glycine molecules attached), but in practice, they’re used interchangeably in supplements.
The reason this form is popular? It’s well-absorbed, gentle on the stomach, and more closely linked to relaxation compared to other types. Don’t get it confused with magnesium citrate, the one that helps constipation.
Aside from magnesium glycinate, there are other ways you can try and improve your sleep.
Ideally you should try to implement a few sleep tips together, rather than just focus on one, as you’ll have a better chance of boosting your sleep hygiene that way.
If you want to actually feel the difference, try combining it with a few science-backed basics:
- Stick to a consistent sleep schedule to support your body clock
- Reduce blue light exposure in the evening (your phone is the main culprit)
- Avoid caffeine at least 6–8 hours before bed
- Keep your room cool and dark — this helps signal sleep to your brain
- Build a wind-down routine to lower stress levels before bed
- Empty your thoughts into a journal so you’re not ruminating all night
- Maintain your bed sheet hygiene
