Why We Need Sleep

Sleep is a time of complete relaxation. A time to rest your mind and body, and become energized and focused for the next day. Some may say teens are deprived from this essential activity during the school year.

Most teens need about nine hours of sleep in order to function well. However, with the pressure to do well in school or just not being able to fall asleep, many teens fall asleep very late.

With school at Talawanda starting at 7:45 (which is moving to a 7:20 start time next year), many wake up very early. Most teens would need to fall asleep around 9 or 10, which is highly unlikely. Many high-schoolers also drive to school, and driving while drowsy can have a higher risk of car accidents.

According to sleepfoundation.org, Around the teenage years, the body’s “biological clock” is reset, telling a person to fall asleep and wake up later. This makes it harder for teens to fall asleep early.

If you are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, you may suffer from sleep deficit. This impacts everything from ability to pay attention, mood, energy. Lack of sleep also can cause depression.

Many schools in the US have accommodated to teen’s sleep needs by having later start times. However, until that happens, there are a few things you can do to regulate sleep patterns:

• Set a regular bedtime
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid stimulants such as caffeine
• Don’t nap for longer than 30 minutes during the day
• Avoid all-nighters
• Wake up with bright light

Many people look forward to sleep at night. Knowing how many hours of sleep you need and how to get the right amount will make everyday activities a whole lot easier and more fun.