College students’ knowledge of sleep and good sleep habits was tested Wednesday during the “Getting Good ZZZZzzzz” presentation.

Chris Lootens, an outreach graduate student, gave the informal presentation on behalf of the Counseling Center.

Lootens started the night testing students’ “sleep IQ,” where he dispelled several myths about sleep.

A person sleeps one-third of his or her life away, Lootens said.

Only the body rests during sleep, so when a person does not sleep enough, his or her system could be “thrown out of whack,” he said.

“You build up a sleep debt,” Lootens said. “Every time you don’t get the right amount, the hours add up.”

Lootens also warned students sleep problems can be warning signs of something more serious during the presentation in the Effingham Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union

Excessive daytime fatigue, snoring or gasping for breath during sleep, waking up after a full night of sleep feeling unrested, difficulty falling asleep and sleeping more or less than usual can be hints that something is physically or mentally wrong.

Lootens illustrated his point by showing a clip from the movie “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” where one of Deuce’s clients was a narcoleptic.

The audience was invited to participate in relaxing exercises that aid sleep. Deep breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth helps a person relax, Lootens said. And a person cannot get good sleep unless he or she is relaxed.

Another method of relaxation the group explored was progressive muscle relaxation. This method requires a person to contract and relax four main muscle groups in their body: the arms, legs, torso, and the head and face.

This should be done “until you feel a slight burning sensation,” he said. Each muscle group must be worked one at a time and repeated to achieve the best results, Lootens said.

“It’s real corny but I guarantee if you try it it helps,” he said. “You’ll notice a difference if you’re relaxed first then went through the steps.”

Lootens gave the audience a “Tips for Getting Better Sleep” worksheet that suggested keeping active during the day, avoiding caffeine at night, cutting down on alcohol and nicotine and going to bed when tired.

“If you’re feeling tired and it’s a time that’s appropriate to sleep, just go,” he said.

Lindsay Schwarz, a senior dietetics major, came to the presentation because she has trouble sleeping at night.

“Sometimes I try reading before I go to bed,” Schwarz said.

The worksheet included a list of the top 10 most boring books to read “as a last resort” said Lootens and included “Moby Dick,” “Paradise Lost,” and “Don Quixote.”

“I might try to read some of these books,” Schwarz said.

Jennifer Burnham, a senior dietetics major and a frequent napper, said “I liked learning not to take naps.”

“I have my own system,” Burnham said. “I have a rain CD I listen to and I turn the fan on.”

Lootens also does presentations across campus for residence halls and student organizations on subjects relating to mental and physical health.