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Students suffer from lack of sleep

Many students struggle with getting enough sleep, causing them to get drowsy during class.
Many students struggle with getting enough sleep, causing them to get drowsy during class.
Aviva Mitrani-Reiser

You know it, I know it, many of us know it. The feeling of leaning back in your chair during class, head growing heavy, eyelids drooping closed as you drift off to dreamland. Maybe you stayed up all night playing video games. Maybe you were cramming for that big upcoming test. Maybe you forgot about that assignment that was due at 11:59 p.m. and were up late last night scrambling to get it in. In any case, sleep deprivation is a common struggle for high school students.

Sleep deprivation, in its simplest terms, is not getting enough quality sleep. According to an article on teenage sleeping habits published by the National Sleep Foundation, teens need between eight to ten hours of sleep per night. 

Tasked with juggling homework, studying for assessments and sports, students often find it hard to get their hours in. “I got six hours and 45 minutes last night because I was up studying for bio,” freshman Yanning Lin said. “I play tennis, and I attend practice multiple times a week, and I also swim, so that, like, takes all the time, and then I still have to come home and do my homework.”

Studying for tests can be time-consuming, and some students are feeling the pressure. “I was studying for the AP Gov quiz. I have 56 points worth of quizzes I have in Spanish. And then also, I have a 20 point quiz in geometry tomorrow, and that is all in one week,” freshman Kai Kwalingana said. 

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Freshman Elle Langley shares similar sentiments. “Some days it really affects [sleep],” Langley said. 

It might seem counterintuitive, but some students find that staying up late to study may actually yield less than optimal results. “Oftentimes I find myself staying up late to study for [tests],” freshman Sophia Wang said. “I noticed that when I don’t get enough sleep, I do poorly on my tests, and the knowledge isn’t really there anymore.”

Extracurriculars and other out-of-school activities can also take up a large chunk of time. Freshman Tawana Magaya is simultaneously a tutor, part of the basketball training program and part of Girls with Impact, an organization that works to teach young women leadership and business skills. “I just feel like sometimes I don’t have enough free time,” Magaya said. “I do have to, like, kind of balance my time, and school cuts into a lot of that time.”

When assignments pile up and deadlines start looming, it may seem like getting enough sleep is impossible. Luckily, some students have their own tips and tricks for keeping themselves on track while still getting their z’s. 

Junior James Luo has a system in place to keep his sleep on track with his assignments. “Instead of the deadline being when the work’s actually due, it’ll be when I want to sleep,” Luo said. “It prevents me from sleeping too late.”

Time management is a huge part of maintaining a healthy sleep routine while also getting work done on time. “I think you should set a schedule for yourself,” Kwalingana said. 

Some students recommend removing distractions when trying to study. “Put your phone away,” Langley said. 

Magaya is in agreement. “Put your phone on silent, or get an app that blocks apps for a certain period of time,” Magaya said. 

Finding the sweet spot between work and play can be tricky. “Make sure you have a balance, and don’t just study, study, study,” freshman Ethan Gonzalves said. “Do what makes you happy.”

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