A recent study in Pediatrics found that teens who use technology before bed, while also consuming caffeine, were less likely to stay awake and focused during the day. One-third of the students in the study reported falling asleep during school. Those same students also had a caffeine intake that was 76% higher than their counterparts. Are you a teenager falling asleep at your desk? Have you considered why you’re struggling to stay awake? It’s not just because your lecture is boring.
Photo by Rocksee
As a teenager, I definitely stayed up too late, struggling to stay awake during class and rarely getting enough sleep at night. These constant struggles were a result of being over-committed, which is becoming more of a problem with high school students today. There is so much pressure to be involved in everything. I was often the last to go to bed in my house because I was up late doing homework after student council meetings, soccer practices, project meetings, etc. I wasn’t as aware of the need for a certain amount of sleep every night and rarely calculated how much sleep I was actually getting. The National Sleep Foundation reports that teens need about 9 ¼ hours of sleep every night to function at their best.
As for the results from the study I mentioned, we can conclude that avoiding TV, computer and cell phones the hour before bed is really going to help you sleep better. Also try avoiding caffeinated drinks a few hours before bed. The pressure to succeed is always there, no matter how old we are. Try to remember that you can’t accomplish anything if you’re exhausted. So take a break! Relax! Sleep is crucial for the proper functioning of our bodies and minds, so keep sleep at the top of your priority list to be successful.
By Emily S.
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