Sleep Deprivation

The Early Bird Gets The Worm, The Later Bird Gets More Sleep Teenagers are infamous for spending their weekends sleeping in, staying up during weekdays doing homework, and especially when it comes to the ever so daunting task for parents to getting them out of bed. Laziness is also associated with teenagers and is considered a bad habit which several teenagers share in common. Although sleep is often misconstrued as just another form of laziness, sleep is beneficial to the body and mind. For those parents who find it difficult to get their child out of bed, they should keep in mind that their children are slowly, yet surely, benefiting from the effects of sleep.
Though sleeping may seem a simple process a person goes through every night, such as, closing of the eyes and unanticipatedly drifting off into sleep, sleep goes through various cycles. Sleeping “encompasses from four to six cycles, each lasting approximately from sixty to ninety minutes” (Jersild 221). Eyes are shut tight under eyelids during sleep, but it does not mean they stay in place for the duration of the time. Eyes experience Rapid Eye Movement, or REM: “Rapid Eye Movement happens during our dreaming process. When people don’t sleep as often, there’s twice the amount of REM.” (Jersild 222). Which means, without enough sleep, there is not enough time left for the dreaming process to occur and more REM left over. Teenagers exert their bodies more than adults and need plenty of time to recover their energy “[This finding] may arise from the fact that children and young adolescents are physically more active than adults and require a larger period of heavy sleep to take the edge off their body fatigue before they enter a “light sleep cycle”.” (Jersild 223).
Sleeping can affect a teenager’s performance during the school day, especially during the early first period class. Many teenagers often wish their school day started later in order for them to catch up on their sleep, and making it less of a hassle for parents to struggle on getting them out of bed. Lack of sleep is not only harmful to health, but also harmful to grades. “Having no sleep can lead to teenagers to obesity and learning disabilities, such as attention deficit disorder” (Kalish 1) Schools focus on placing standardized testing upon students in order for their scores to improve and to benefit their education, “For those still searching for a policy that might have a positive impact, here’s an idea: Stop focusing on testing and support changing school hours of the school day.” (Kalish 3) As stated before, there are certain instances where schools change the hours in order for it to accommodate the students’s needs. A certain example exists where “One school in Kentucky made the first bell 8:40 instead of 7:30, which raised attendance and lowered car accidents on the way to school.” (Kalish 2).
Rest is essential for the human body, and that is the case for teenagers, who are growing and developing. Little to no sleep is harmful in ways that have been previously stated and can adjust itself into an unhealthy and dangerous habit. There are proven statistics which state the exact amount of hours a teenager needs and how no sleep can affect one negatively. “Teens need about nine and a half hours of sleep each night to function best (for some eight and a half hours is enough). Most teens do not get enough sleep- one study found that only 15% reported sleeping eight and a half hours on school nights.” (“Teens and Sleeping”). Schoolwork is also a common factor in sleeping less, since the teenager has to spend their time working on homework instead of going to bed. Teenagers usually spend their weekdays staying up all night, then using the weekend as their advantage for catching up on sleep. Loss of focus and concentration in simple tasks can lead to dangerous consequences throughout the day. When heading out in public, a teenager can confront real dangers, such as deadly car accidents. “Sleep is increasingly recognized as important to public health, with sleep insufficiently linked to motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters and medical and other occupational orders.” (“Insufficient Sleep”).
Parents are now aware of how crucial sleep is to their teenager, and why waking them up is a burden. Sleeping consists of numerous cycles and requires complete rest in order to finish the cycle. It benefits the teenage student at school, and lack of sleep and waking up far too early can affect their work at school. Sleep is an important habit which rests the body and mind, leaving it refreshed and healthy for the new day ahead.