Between class, work, parties and school activities, many students find it difficult to take the time to re-energize body and brain with the real food for the soul, sleep.
Failure to get in at least eight hours can result in dizziness, loss of energy and insomnia – all symptoms of sleep deprivation.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, not getting enough sleep or having sleep difficulties can limit your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. It can also lead to aggressive or inappropriate behavior. It can also contribute to acne and other skin problems, or cause weight gain.
It can heighten the effects of alcohol, lead to the use of caffeine and nicotine and precede serious illnesses such as insomnia.
Dr. Clarence Calhoun, a general surgeon and physician at Albany State University Student Health Services, said, “Students are often suffering from sleep deprivation and don’t even realize it.”
Vicki Philips, R.N., a family nurse practitioner who is also at Albany State University Student Health Services, said students who do not receive at least eight to nine hours of sleep are harming their immune systems.
“Too many extracurricular activities, along with college life pressures, are causing students to become sleep-deprived,” Philips said.
Christy Statham, a 19-year-old business management major, said, “I don’t receive eight hours of sleep because I am involved in so much, and still feel the pressure to keep my academics up. There aren’t enough hours in the day.”
Yet some others force themselves to stay awake to party.
“Students in college socialize late at night instead of sleeping,” Erica Whales, 18, a sophomore speech and theater major, said.
Failure to receive the needed eight hours of sleep can become a habit that affects one’s circadian rhythm, the natural rhythm of the body. It serves as a clock that tells the body when to shut down and prepare for sleep and when to feel more alert.
Students who have a slower running circadian rhythm may not “wake up” until later in the morning or day, according to Calhoun. They may have difficulty concentrating, and feel a bit groggy or down during part of the day.
If your circadian rhythm is off balance, there are steps to get it back on the right cycle.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends awakening about 15 minutes earlier each day until you reach eight to nine hours of sleep. Avoid naps during this process. While adapting to your new sleep schedule, avoid caffeine, alcohol and other substances that can affect your sleep. Open blinds or shades or turn on bright lights as soon as possible after waking to help reset your internal clock. Avoid bright light in the evening.
“Once your circadian rhythm is on the right track, it is up to the student to go to bed at a reasonable time. Depriving yourself [of] sleep is only going to hurt you in the long run,” Calhoun said.