Since the beginning of the school year, students have been learning to manage their academic, athletic and social lives while trying to get a reasonable amount of sleep. We all know the feeling of hearing our alarms in the morning on the first days of school and wanting to press snooze. Alternatively, students often hope to get a good night's rest, but instead work on an essay until midnight. The hardest part of getting back into a healthy sleep routine during the school year is finding a way to balance your responsibilities along with giving yourself ample time to rest.
Teenage sleep deprivation is especially prevalent during the school year because of homework and other increasing responsibilities. Teenagers have the expectation to commit to athletics, arts, and other activities while managing their academic lives. Due to these factors, we have no choice but to lose a few hours of sleep to stay on track. Recent studies by The Center for Disease Control (CDC) show that only nine percent of teens get enough sleep, meaning 91 percent suffer from sleep deprivation.
Sleep deprivation's side effects decrease productivity during the day, leading to an endless cycle of late nights. The most common side effects are reduced focus and slower reaction time. A lack of sleep makes it more challenging to focus on the task at hand and increases the amount of time spent on homework each night. With applications like Instagram, TikTok, and BeReal, becoming distracted by technology is extremely easy. Sleepiness adds to the time it takes teenagers to put the technology down and complete other tasks. A report by Common Sense Media reveals that, on average, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 use social media or other forms of technology for about nine hours daily. It is nearly impossible for teens to stay off their phones for long periods of time to complete other tasks.
Starting school is directly related to an increase in sleep deprivation and can negatively affect our ability to manage our responsibilities. While starting school can feel very overwhelming, it is essential to take breaks, manage your time and remember to get enough sleep because it will be beneficial to you in the long run.
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