Sleeping tips

As a student in high school, life can become pretty hectic. Loads of homework and extracurricular activities take up a lot of free time. Especially around December, with finals and deadlines approaching, days may seem to fly by. On top of school work, the holiday season causes a lot of busy schedules. During these weeks, it’s easy to lose track of time- but also lose track of sleep.
Sleep deprivation is a common issue with teenagers of the current day. Staying up past midnight on school days is typical of a student in high school. Going by these numbers, it is fair to assume that most teens are not getting the healthy amount of sleep they should be. “I’m so tired” is a sentence commonly heard throughout the halls of Central, or any high school for that matter. In every class, there’s usually at least one person trying to take a nap or fighting to keep his or her eyes open.

If this is the case, how much sleep should we be getting every night? Well, according to John Hopkins, teens should sleep nine to nine and a half hours per night. This is because teenagers are going through an important second developmental stage of cognitive maturation. Sleeping helps support brain development as well as physical growth.

So, a student who wakes up at 6:30 a.m. should go to bed the night before at 9 or 9:30. It may seem impossible to go to bed this early for many people just because their bodies are accustomed to staying up much later. There are some easy ways to get into good sleeping habits.

One of the best ways is to make a strict sleeping schedule. Going to bed at a set time every night will help your body adjust and it will learn to “shut down” before that time. Another way to help relax before bed is to avoid screen time. Light from phones can make it more difficult to fall asleep.

Another great way to sneak more rest into a busy day is to take a nap. Short cat naps have been found to be beneficial for quick bursts of energy. When you’re feeling sluggish, take a 20-minute nap and you’ll feel refreshed afterward.

No matter what someone’s day is like, sleep is the most important part of success for everyone. Rest should not be neglected. Use these tips to get the appropriate amount of sleep and use your newfound energy to change the world!