Many of us high schoolers often overlook the importance of sleep, and even if we notice it or not it does affect us. Due to homework, extracurriculars, sports and even just relaxing after a long day, sleep is often disregarded. Some of us “night owls” end up getting 5 to 6 hours of sleep a day, instead of the 8 to 10 hours that our bodies need.
Sleep is when our bodies get the chance to relax and detox from the busy lives that we live. We can give our brain a rest and can drift off into a relaxing restful sleep. Without those 8 to 10 quality hours of sleep a lot of our habits can change without us realizing it. Oftentimes, sleep can hinder parts of our day and decrease our quality of life.
According to Healthline, lack of sleep can cause a variety of health issues such as sickness, increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and an increased risk of cancer. It can also hinder cognitive abilities and cause you to become forgetful and more accident-prone.
Shreya Shah (11) explains how she values her beauty rest and how it changed her. “Ever since I started to sleep earlier, I noticed a considerable difference in how I was feeling. I woke up with more energy, and I felt overall more productive. Before, I would sleep late and feel tired all day, but going to sleep even 30 minutes to an hour earlier really helped me rest and recover from my long day.”
Along with an increased risk of illness and cognitive hindrance, a lack of sleep also affects your mood. Studies show people who are sleep-deprived report increases in negative moods (anger, frustration, irritability, sadness) and decreases in positive moods.
Anisha Bodar (10) says that “I normally stay up pretty late, sometimes up to 1am on school nights. I’m so swamped with schoolwork and sports that I barely have time for myself. I definitely do wake up exhausted and even grumpy sometimes because of my sleep deprivation.”
Yorba Linda High School students often take sleep for granted and don’t realize the importance of a restful night. One solution to get a better night of sleep is when you are overwhelmed with homework and also very tired; it may be better to just go to sleep and wake up early to do your work and finish. After a night of sleep, your body can recharge and get your work done more efficiently and with a fresh mindset. Another solution is when you are finished with all your work, go to sleep early instead of spending an hour or two on your phone or watching TV. Although you may not feel tired, it is better to get rest rather than to stay up until you physically feel tired.
With these simple changes, you can learn to live a healthier and happier life when you are fully rested.
