by Dariga Atayeva and Camila Parenti Fernanadez, Y9
Do you ever feel like you can’t get out of bed in the morning? That you’re too tired? Here is what you should ask yourself: have you been getting enough sleep? According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), an average person between the age of 13 and 18 needs around 8 – 10 hours of sleep. That, we can testify firsthand, is not the LGB student experience. The neuroscientist Claudia Aguirre says that in the United States, about 66% of adolescents are sleep deprived. That is 66% more than it should be. It has also been proven that teenagers who sleep more feel better overall; sleep has physical as well as mental benefits.
We all know that sleeping is essential in order to be healthy, but why is it especially key for a successful life as a student? Sleeping is just as essential as anything else, be it eating, drinking water, or exercise. When you sleep your whole body calms down; your brain has time to store the information received throughout the day and relax. Claudia Aguirre writes that “If a student has sleep deprivation then they will also have memory lapses, blurred vision, irritability, and difficulty concentrating”. All these are crucial aspects to avoid for a student to succeed academically. There can also be a greater risk of certain illnesses. . When you sleep your concentration span goes up, you pay more attention, and you feel less tired and weak. This can affect your learning in class, and how you do in assignments or tests.
So, why are teens sleep deprived? A common defense is that schools start too early, but is that really the reason? In some cases, it might be caffeine intake at night or late-night activities. McKenzie Dillon, a certified sleep coach, says that “when caffeine enters the system, it blocks the adenosine from entering our brain, which causes us to feel stimulated and awake”, meaning it is better to sleep rather than drink coffee as the latter just worsens the situation. Screens at late hours don’t help either. just putting your phone and all screens with blue light away a couple of hours before bedtime changes everything; the way you sleep, how fast you fall asleep, and when you do so. Putting your phone away can also improve your mental health and avoid issues brought on by social media. If there’s one surefire way to improve your high school experience, it’s to catch those Zs.
