How sleep deprivation can affect

WAYS TO COMBAT AND PREVENT

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

illustration by | ERICA SHI

1

MAKE A SET ROUTINE 2

DECREASE SCREEN-TIME 3

LET YOUR BODY REST

Create a routine for yourself with time for what you need to accomplish. Be sure to give yourself time to unwind before going to sleep. Cutting back on screentime is imperative to bettering sleep habits. Try and make it a habit to put down electronics around 30 minutes before bed. Let yourself rest and listen to your body. If you feel yourself growing tired, allow yourself the time you need to sleep and recharge overnight.

STOP DROP AND SLEEP

Panorama investigates detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on students

OMAR AL’HUSSEINI

staff writer

Sleep deprivation among students is at an all-time high, with nearly 73% of students not getting enough sleep each night. Because of the early mornings and late nights, many students don’t get anywhere near the recommended eight hours of sleep.

“Teenagers need about eight hours of sleep per night because of how much they’re growing and developing and just where they are developmentally,” psychology teacher Molly Beck said. “So we know that teenagers need about eight hours of sleep a night, and if someone is up until 2 a.m. and in class at 7:30 a.m., they’re not getting that sleep.”

On top of developmental issues, sleep deprivation can lead to poor mental health. This poses as a danger to those predisposed to mental illnesses.

“Sleep deprivation can lead to all of these biological and neurological effects,” Beck said. “So then what you’re dealing with is a teenager who has a developing brain. I mean, you’re just setting yourself up to not be in the best space in terms of mental health.”

Many students experience sleep deprivation and feel as if it keeps them from being themselves. Students also notice changes in moods impacting school performance.

“When I’m tired, I’m just not in a good mood or happy, so it’s affected me in the way that I’m just not myself during school days,” junior Armi Mubeen said.

On top of the health issues that surface due to lack of sleep, many students believe that this lack of sleep is negatively impacting their grades. As the school year continues, students have become increasingly sleep-deprived, leading them to start looking for solutions of their own.

“I use melatonin, which is like a sleeping drug when I can’t sleep or am looking for a way to break my bad sleeping habits,” Mubeen said. “It helps when I’m getting like six hours of sleep at night to be able to fall asleep at like nine for example.”

Breaking bad sleep habits and getting back on a schedule may seem like a difficult task. This can be made manageable by creating a nightly routine and slowly transitioning into it.

“It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing,” Beck said. “Try going from sleeping four hours to sleeping five hours a night. It’s all about letting your body adjust.” p

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