Science of Sleep
It's no secret that many college students get less than the optimal 7 to 9 hours of sleep needed, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). In a recent Student Health 101 survey, over 48% of respondents said they frequently or occasionally had trouble sleeping.
Stephanie Kane, a senior at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, says she often has trouble sleeping due to general anxiety about the tasks she must accomplish the next day.
"There is no 'average' for the hours of sleep I get during the semester; that's the problem," she says. "Drowsiness during class keeps me from taking strong notes, and exhaustion during tests keeps me from performing well. Since I actually enjoy class, I'm up-set that being tired zaps my usual enthusiasm for learning." to lower a person's metabolism and increase appetite.
The positive benefits of a good night's sleep are endless, especially for college students. Not only will you wake up feeling well-rested, you will also feel a significant improvement in your mood and memory. To catch some quality Zzz's, the NSF recommends having a regular exercise schedule, avoiding caffeine, and establishing a relaxing routine before bed. Studies also show that a lack of sleep affects the memory. "Sleep in terms of memory is not like the bank," says Dr. Matthew Walker, principal investigator at the Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. "You cannot accumulate a debt and hope to pay it off at a later point in time. It is an all or nothing event."
"If you are sleep deprived," he says, "your brain seems to be about 40% worse at making new memories. That's the difference between an A and a D grade!" Many students are not aware of the significant mental and physical effects sleep deprivation has on their bodies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stress and anxiety levels in-crease during periods of tiredness, which could lead to depression.
Source: SHARON TULLY, UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
SHARON TULLY IS A JOURNALISM MAJOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND IN VIRGINIA.