Photo Credit: Pedro Ribeiro Simões (Flickr)[/caption]For teenagers, it's easy nowadays to stay up way past midnight and sometimes not sleep at all. Teens then end up sleeping in class or missing important information and are always tired and worn out. Sleep is very important to a teenager's learning and enriches their learning experiences when they are completely rested.
Scientists at Mayo Clinic, an educational medical center for information, believe that, on average, a teenager should get at least nine hours of sleep each day to maintain part of a healthy lifestyle. But for a teen’s busy life, with an overwhelming amount of homework, chores, extracurricular activities, etc., there are just not enough hours in a day to sleep that long.
So why do teens stay up so late? “Most teens can't easily fall asleep until about 11 p.m.,“ experts say,” and their brains stay in sleep mode until at least 8 a.m.” Some schools acknowledge this fact and start school later than others, so students have time to wake up fully and come to school focused. But, on the other hand, most schools start from 7 a.m to 8 a.m.
Scientists at Mayo Clinic explain, “Everyone has an internal clock that influences body temperature, sleep cycles, appetite and hormonal changes. The biological and psychological processes that follow the cycle of this 24-hour internal clock are called circadian rhythms. Puberty changes a teen's internal clock, delaying the time he or she starts feeling sleepy and awakens.” That’s why teens have the stereotypical reputation of staying up later and later as they get older. The idea of “not being tired” is simply not true.
Sleep deprivation can not only tire out the average teen, but it can also cause mental and physical illnesses. When teens are tired, this can make it difficult for them to remember things, such as names, club activities, and homework assignments, which can be detrimental to their school and social lives. Also, no sleep can cause a greater risk of catching a cold or getting strep throat or other illnesses involving the immune system.
Teenagers are capable of getting a driver's licence the moment they turn 16. This is another risk that a tired teen puts on themselves. If teens cannot sleep enough at night, they are at a greater risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. Studies done on sleeping habits of teens by Nationwide have proved that adolescents can fall asleep behind the wheel in the middle of the night and in the afternoon. If they don’t fall asleep while driving, being tired can still affect their ability to pay attention to the road. It could be something as harmless as missing a road or exit, or something as life-threatening as not stopping at a stoplight.
Another risk factor for loss of sleep is participating in sports. If teens do choose to participate in sports, practices can last until late at night. Sports can be a direct cause of pushing back homework and of the lack of sleep teenagers receive. Not only does school get affected, but lack of sleep can cause sports-related injuries. Lack of sleep while playing sports could result in soreness lasting longer and injuries due to not paying attention during practices or games.
If you need help falling asleep, doctors do not recommend sleeping pills. Lifestyle changes will affect teens more positively than just covering up the problem with a pill. Some practices that are encouraged to get better sleep are adjusting the lighting in the bedroom, buying a nightlight, sticking to a sleep schedule, waking up earlier, drinking a glass of warm milk, and making sure to leave cell phones turned off several hours before trying to sleep.
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