Getting enough sleep is always a subject central to college students. It is no secret that a good night sleep makes everybody feel better. Time management is one of the skills that students should master in order to succeed in college.
College students are all struggling with getting enough sleep due to either academic pressures or social opportunities.
Getting enough sleep is always a subject central to college students. It is no secret that a good night sleep makes everybody feel better. Time management is one of the skills that students should master in order to succeed in college.
College students are all struggling with getting enough sleep due to either academic pressures or social opportunities.
“There are multiple possible reasons,” Plattsburgh State senior counselor at Student Health and Counseling Center, Carol Shuttleworth said. “Students are away from home and are suddenly free from any set bed-time.”
She said that students may not be used to regulating their own sleep schedule due to the fact that there might be many activities such as parties, meetings, college programs at night. Another reason Shuttleworth mentions is that the residence halls can be active and noisy at night, which make it hard for students who want to sleep.
The use of devices including phone, iPads, computer, TVs cause wakefulness because they emit a blue light that fools the body into thinking it is the morning, according to Shuttleworth.
Most of the students admitted that spending time online with their electronic device is one of the significant obstacles to sleep, according to the Chegg study from the California offices of Chegg on the sleep habit of college students.
Sleep is important for everybody. She said this importance does not change as one gets older. If students do not get enough sleep, there are some bad consequences for this.
“For students, the main issue is the impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance,” Shuttleworth said.
For example, she said it can affect one’s ability to think clearly and remember information.
“People who learned information remembered it a lot better when there was an interval of sleep between the initial study and a subsequent test,” Shuttleworth said. “In other words, pulling an all nighter is probably going to negatively impact the student’s ability to do well on an exam.”
She also emphasized that it is also dangerous to drive when sleep-deprived.
“There are other serious consequences of sleep deprivation,” Shuttleworth said. “Lack of sleep can cause symptoms of anxiety and depression. It can lead to weight gain, bone loss, increased risk of stroke or diabetes and heart problems.
She also stressed on the fact that lack of sleep is a serious health problem in college and even in America in general.
“If I do not have enough of sleep at night, I will be more grumpy in the morning and I am not focus because I am too busy thinking about how tired I am,” junior nursing major Caitlyn Poleto said. “And it is really difficult for any college students to get enough sleep they need.”
She also stated when students do not get enough sleep, they might end up oversleeping in class and might not be able to pay attention in class.
“Students need to set up a workable daily schedule that allows them sufficient sleep, 8-9 hours a night if possible,” Shuttleworth said. “It is helpful to have a sleep ritual.”
She recommended students should discontinue using all the electronic devices at least half an hour before bed or do a relaxation before exercise such as the ‘body scan’ to prepare their bodies for sleep.
“Make time for yourself and develop a schedule,” junior nursing major Emily Haibon said. “Go to bed at the same time and wake up the same time.”
Once students are able to develop that schedule, she said that can help them a lot with getting the sleep they need.
Shuttleworth also encourages students to go to the Health Center if needed.
Email Hilly Nguyen at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
