Do you get a full eight hours of sleep? Seven? Six? Less? Back in the 1980s, parents may have been upset with their kids for not waking up on time for school and receiving too much sleep, but now it’s quite the opposite. It appears students aren’t getting enough sleep – and I can attest to this. But why? As Time Magazines writer, Frank Bruni puts it, it’s because of how childhood has been transformed – at least, “among an ambitious, privileged subset of Americans — into an insanely programmed, status-obsessed and sometimes spirit-sapping race.” We are all taught very early on, to apply ourselves in every way, take Advanced Placement courses, add another extracurricular, apply to this college, and we end up becoming more overloaded and unprepared.
So sleep deprivation, how can one go on and on with all these pressures with this new childhood being transformed and not snap? Not break? Well, from the pressure of perfection, according to the Jed Foundation, “Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults, ages 10-34 (CDC, 2023).” “22% of high school students reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year.” So how does this relate to sleep deprivation? Well, we all know how important sleep is to both our mental, and physical health so with reports such as these – according to a 2022 article from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “Studies also show that sleep deficiency changes activity in some parts of the brain. If you’re sleep deficient, you may have trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling your emotions and behavior, and coping with change. Sleep deficiency has also been linked to depression, suicide, and risk-taking behavior.” An alarm goes off that connects the dots. With more tablets, phones, and social media platforms, on top of all the extracurricular activities, academics, and more… how can this generation, my generation rest?
As a Gen Z myself, I have come to learn, now heading into my 3rd year of college, that sleep has made all the change in the way that I apply myself in school, my passions, people, and work. Through grueling hours of studying, and now halfway done with my bachelor’s, I can confidently say the reason I’ve made it to Dean lists all my second year, and not all of my first, was because of that shift in my resting period. Finding true rest, and getting enough sleep is what changed the way I was able to pour out, mentally, and physically I have been able to perform exceptionally more. So to the reader, if you’re getting your 8 hours, fantastic and keep doing so. If not, as a student who says yes to too many things, works part-time, and wants to make Deans List each quarter, prioritize sleep. Maybe it won’t be 8 hours, maybe it will be 7, but recharging your mind and being able to sleep on what you have studied will be way more valuable than running on Red Bulls and cramming four months of lectures into 24 hours. Do it for your mind, and your brain health, and to succeed in life we must all find a way to break what society wants for us and listen to your body. I hope you found these words encouraging, and will step into this new school year maybe not completely changed, but small changes such as sleeping an hour earlier will allow you to start this new year off on a good note!
Sources:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “How Sleep Affects Your Health.” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 15 Jun. 2022, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects#:~:text=Studies%20also%20show%20that%20sleep,%2C%20and%20risk%2Dtaking%20behavior.
The Jed Foundation. “Mental Health and Suicide Statistics.” The Jed Foundation, 28 Mar. 2024, jedfoundation.org/mental-health-and-suicide-statistics/#:~:text=Suicide%20Rates,-Suicide%20is%20the&text=22%25%20of%20high%20school%20students,suicide%20in%20the%20past%20year.
