Students need it. Students love it. Students want more of it, but can’t seem to find the time to have it. What is it?
Sleep.
The college years are notorious for the “no sleep, all study” mind frame that most students have. Between classes, study groups, homework and social lives, sleep is the last thing on the students minds. However, it does take a toll over time.
“I usually get about six hours of sleep on weekdays, and I am usually very sleepy for my first class. I can’t keep my eyes open or stay focused,” junior agriculture major Laci Carlisle said. “I don’t feel like going to class without having at least an energy drink or some form of caffeine.”
She’s not the only one, English major Stephanie Garrett, 18, also has difficulty finding time to squeeze in a few extra hours of sleep.
“Sleep is obviously important to me, and I will take a nap if the opportunity presents itself. But my homework plays a huge part on how much sleep I get. If I have too much to do, then I don’t get as much sleep as I should,” Garrett said. “I drink so much caffeine that I could not possibly fathom the amount.”
Sleep allows the body to rest and restore energy. It affects both the physical and mental aspects of the body, and a good night’s sleep often helps people handle stress, solve problems as well as help recover from the effects of an illness, according to WebMd.
The amount of sleep a person needs depends on the individual. The need for sleep also varies with age; infants need 16-18 hours, teenagers nine hours, and adults need seven to eight hours, according to the site.
A Stanford University research study found that college students are missing out on sleep and are developing different forms of sleep deprivation, which occurs when a person habitually does not get the amount of sleep he or she needs.
This can differ from one hour to 100 hours. The affects of sleep deprivation can include decreased academic performance, car accidents?-?fatigue being the leading cause?-?illness and mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
Many students feel that staying up all night studying is a rite of passage, but the effects can linger with them through their GPA.
According to an article in the Sept. 17 edition of USA Today, “Pulling all-nighters compromises your overall sleep and makes it difficult to reach full academic potential.”
The responsibility of being a mother, wife, and student make Stephanie Fernandez, a 33-year-old elementary education major, miss out on the amount of sleep she requires.
” I normally get about six hours of sleep per night. But that is an interrupted six hours. I wake up several times a night. It’s either sick kids, dogs barking, or my husband’s alarm clock that wakes me up,” Fernandez said. ” I wish for an eight hour sleep with no interruptions … that would be heaven.”
Sometimes it’s a strong dose of caffeine that gets sleep-deprived students through the day.
“I drink two cups of very strong coffee a day, I take night classes that don’t end until 10 p.m., and I have to drive an hour home. So I drink one cup in the afternoon and that normally gets me through,” Fernandez said.
Colleges and universities around the nation are realizing the importance of sleep and are taking part in helping their students.
Rice University in Houston is urging students to set and keep a regular bedtime.
Duke University in North Carolina offers a stress-free haven that includes not only relaxing wall color, but also massaging chairs and soothing music.
Now, Texas A&M University-Commerce offers a stress management class that includes a study of the nature and psychology of stress with emphasis placed on coping strategies and relaxation techniques.
“Students learn alternate ways to handle stress such as guided imagery, meditation and reframing. By the time they have finished the course they are able to reduce test anxiety and improve their study skills,” Professor Quynh Dang, who teaches the class, said.