Sleep may sometimes seem more optional than otherwise, but sleep is just as important to one’s life as water, food, and air—it is a necessity. Learn the facts, understand the consequences, and develop a healthy lifestyle.
According to the American Sleep Disorders Association, the average teenager needs 9.5 hours of sleep each night. For a student starting school at the standard time of 8:00 AM and assuming he or she wakes up at 7:00 AM, this would mean going to sleep at 9:30 PM the night before. However, studies show that teenagers generally get an average of only 7.4 hours of sleep each night. Teens often assume that sleeping in on weekends can compensate for the hours of sleep lost during the week. Irregular sleeping patterns such as this, however, can be extremely harmful by disrupting individuals’ biological clocks.
Along with our general health, sleep has an incredible impact on school performance. Loss of sleep can cause concentration problems, reduced quality of schoolwork, worsened class behavior, and even internalized symptoms such as anxiety and sadness.
While sleep deprivation is obviously harmful to oneself, it can be just as harmful, or more harmful, to others. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsiness causes over 100,000 crashes each year, and teenagers are driving in over half of those crashes. CdM’s infamous crowded lanes in the morning are especially unsafe with tired young drivers behind the wheels.
Additionally, lack of sleep can actually cause one to have acne and other skin problems. No one likes pimples!
Solutions
1. In order to prevent an unsteady sleeping schedule, establish a bedtime to commit to every night. A consistent sleep routine will allow one to be more lively and awake throughout the day, contributing to safer driving and better grades.
2. Avoid all electronics, including television, phones, and computers. Especially with video games, texting, Facebook, and other modern devices, electronics can be extremely distracting and cause one to go to bed even later.
Freshman Kelsey Schmitt said, “I usually end up going to bed around 11:00 or 11:30 and often it is just because I lost track of time while on Facebook.”
3. Naps can be beneficial, but consider the time of day. Naps taken too close to one’s established bedtime can adversely affect the quantity and quality of one’s sleep.
4. Choose light snacks, rather than entire meals, when eating close to bedtime. Eating too much too late simply causes part of one’s body to continue working while the rest of his or her body has shut down. The result is less effective sleep, which in turn develops a greater need for sleep, making it even more difficult to wake up in the morning.
Hopefully, these tips will ensure future health and safety. Remember that sleep is important and should not be taken lightly. Sweet dreams!
