Sleep can make or break how anyone performs throughout the day, but this fact applies even more to high school students. With filled-out schedules, hours worth of work, and out-of-school obligations, sleep is one of the most important things students can do to manage their overall health.
Having a lack of sleep can completely change how your day goes, but the problems go deeper than just the feeling of being tired. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, students who suffer from “sleep debt” are far more likely to perform poorly in school.
Sleep-deprived students often are easily distracted and fail to retain vital information learned in class, with many people’s academic performance being mirrored by these habits. “Oftentimes I struggle to concentrate in class because I’m so tired,” said Dakota Clark, a Sophomore.
Other aspects of a high schooler’s life are also affected by this bad habit; trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle out of school can become draining if you are constantly sleep-deprived. “If you’re basically out of it (tired), and then you come to school on zero while trying to keep your academics straight, you won’t have anything left in you to socialize or spend time with hobbies,” said Jake Kriwox, a Junior.
Causes for sleep deprivation in high schoolers are widespread. While some individuals may be overwhelmed with homework, other cases are attributed to distractions such as social media or personal relationships. Students who must balance school, work, and other obligations, such as extracurricular activities, often struggle with maintaining a healthy sleep schedule.
Sources such as the CDC recommend high-schoolers get at least 8-9 hours of sleep per night. As of 2021, nearly 77% of students reported not getting enough sleep throughout the school year, showing how major the sleep-deprivation epidemic is truly becoming.
It makes my day better when I eat good food.
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