Do those all-night and late-night study sessions leave you feeling sleep deprived? You could be harming your health.
Only an estimated 33 percent of college students get sufficient sleep when school is in session, which means that the vast majority of students are sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation is no fun, of course, but it turns out that insufficient sleep is also harmful to your health.
A person who is sleep deprived is at greater risk for a number of health problems, including heart disease and obesity. And sleep deprivation impacts cognitive function, so staying up all night to study may just hurt you come exam time more than it helps.
This infographic has information on when students are most at risk for sleep deprivation. Below the graphic, check out some tips on how to make the most of the sleep that you’re getting.
Sleep Deprived? Make the most of the sleep you get!
If you’re functioning on sleep debt, here are a few tips to help you get more quality sleep.
- Nap when you can. You can even maximize those precious nap times. Read more on how to take the perfect nap.
- Ditch the TV. Sleeping with the TV on disrupts your sleep cycles. You get better quality sleep in a quiet, dark room. If you do want to watch TV while falling asleep, try setting your TV’s sleep timer to automatically turn off after 60 minutes or so.
- Set a bedtime routine. You’ll fall asleep faster if you have a bedtime routine. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Maybe you read for 20-30 minutes, brush your teeth, and then crawl into bed. Maybe you take a hot bath at bedtime. Find a routine that helps tell your body that it’s time for rest.
- Skip the booze. Alcohol messes with your sleep cycles, so sleep sober for more quality sleep.
Any sleep deprived students out there? How do you manage to catch up on sleep?