Often sleep seems to be the least of a college student’s worries. Sleep tends to be outweighed by the stress of projects and exams as deadlines rapidly approach. However, lack of sleep can be very damaging to a student's mental and physical health.
Evidently, “Recent studies have shown that adequate sleep is essential to feeling awake and alert, maintaining good health and working at peak performance,’ says Dr. Epstein. ‘After two weeks of sleeping six hours or less a night, students feel as bad and perform as poorly as someone who has gone without sleep for 48 hours. New research also highlights the importance of sleep in learning and memory. Students getting adequate amounts of sleep performed better on memory and motor tasks than did students deprived of sleep’” (American Academy of Sleep Medicine).
Furthermore, The National Sleep Foundation states that college students ought to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night so that they are able to concentrate, avoid mood swings, avoid low-energy states, and avoid having a weakened immune system (Cornell Health).
Sleep is a vital part of ensuring that you will succeed in your college career. We have been told our whole lives that 8 hours of sleep is how much sleep we ought to be getting a night to be able to function well both mentally and physically. Life does not always allow us to have a full 8 hours of sleep but there are ways in which we can put into practice to get as close to 8 hours of sleep as possible.
It would be a good idea for you to layout a schedule in advance to starting your day. For some, that may be hard; however, the reward of having a full 8 hours of sleep to help support your immune system and enhance your mental health is worth it.
Naps are helpful occasionally; however, they typically disrupt productivity and have the potential to keep you up longer during the night hours, reducing the total number of hours of sleep you get that night. If one does decide that they truly cannot function without a nap, it is recommended to not take longer than a 20-minute power nap.
Forcing yourself to get settled down into bed earlier with the intention of going to sleep early can help you create a new sleep cycle that will benefit you more both mentally and physically.
Before settling down to fall asleep, create a calm, warm ambiance in your room. Turn off all bright lights and go with something more subtle to allow yourself to relax and wind down to make falling asleep easier.
Trying to balance life, friends, homework, and sleep is very difficult in college, and we understand that; however, you ought to not forget that you are in college to obtain a degree, and to obtain a degree you must pass your classes. If your friends are real friends, they will understand if you cannot get a meal with them, or if you cannot hangout with them. They are more than likely on the same wxhausted page you are and need time to prioritize themselves to sleep. Prioritze your mental and physical health and ensure you are getting at least ot close to 8 hours of sleep every night, especially the week before, and the week of large projects, exams, or any other stressful event.
-Ariel Reece
References:
Importance of Sleep & Effects of sleep deprivation on college students. American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers. (2020, January 27). Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://aasm.org/college-students-getting-enough-sleep-is-vital-to-academic-success/
Sleep. Cornell Health. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://health.cornell.edu/resources/health-topics/sleep
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Jan 30, 2023
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