8 Hours: Do you get enough in?

Taylor Greely
Kappa Kappa Gamma

With lives jam packed with work, school, friends and all the commitments of Greek life, sleep is probably one of the last things on your mind. But sleep deprivation is a serious problem and can get in the way of everyday activities, making life in general seem like a chore.

Not only does it hinder your everyday mood and outlook, but lack of sleep can also lead to a number of health problems. I’m going to go through these one by one to help you understand how the effects relate to you:

Decreased Performance & Alertness: This means whether you’re sitting in class or playing your favorite sport, you’re not doing it to the best of your ability. You’re moving and thinking slower, event though you’re trying just as hard.

Memory & Cognitive Problems: Remember that all-nighter you pulled for a test? Make it your last. All-nighters are never a good idea because information is only converted to your long-term memory during sleep. I realize that sometimes staying up late is necessary. In those cases you need to get at least 2 hours of sleep to make sure what you just stayed up so late to learn sticks in your mind for the actual test. Planning ahead so that you get the recommended 8 to 9 hours of sleep before a test is ideal and will allow you to recall quickly and think clearly for optimal performance and better grades.

Stress: Since sleep deprivation impairs so many other functions, it can lead to frustration and stress. Like I said, you’re trying just as hard but not performing any task to your full potential. Additionally, you’re body is less able to cope with stress, amplifying everyday pressures and making them seem like a bigger deal than they actually are.

Lack of Motivation: If you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, plan on your entire next day going to waste. You’re just not going to feel like doing the things you should be, which decreases your productivity and puts you even further behind.

Weight & Cosmetics: Sleep is an important factor in maintaining a healthy weight and getting too little puts you on the losing end in so many ways. For one, being awake more hours of the day simply leaves more hours to be eating. The 2,000-calorie diet is based on a 16-hour day (accounting for 8 hours of sleep). That’s 125 calories an hour that your body needs to function properly. Cut the time you sleep by 4 hours and, hypothetically, you’re going to be consuming an additional 500 calories a day since you’ll get hungry just as often. Sleep also increases the hunger hormone and leads to sugar cravings plus decreases your motivation to work out. It’s the perfect recipe for weight gain. If that’s not enough, lack of sleep takes a toll on your outer appearance, leading to skin problems and bags under your eyes. Not a pretty picture.

College students need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a night. When you don’t get this, a sleep debt accumulates and the amount of sleep you lost must be made up in addition to the amount you already need. I know what you’re thinking: “I would love to sleep more but I just don’t have time.”

You’re wrong. In my next article I will touch on some valuable time-management tricks that will make getting a better quality and quantity of sleep a cinch. Until then, try to hit the sheets an hour earlier to start paying off your sleep debt. Once you’re caught up, the benefits will come pouring in and you’ll be able to tackle all aspects of life with more ease.