Not Sleeping Isn't Something You Should Be Bragging About | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Not Sleeping Isn't Something You Should Be Bragging About

Students should work towards a culture of encouragement around good sleeping habits.

216
Not Sleeping Isn't Something You Should Be Bragging About
IMG Flip

Almost by definition, college kids are busy, and that means we don’t sleep much. However, there is a concerning impulse to brag about our lack of sleep that is damaging to student health and is worth bringing to our attention.

I first noticed this phenomenon back in high school among my peers in AP classes. The days of tests or papers, one student would start out by proudly exclaiming that he only got 5 hours of sleep last night. Another would counter that she only got three. And this process continued week after week. It seemed strange to me then, and still seems strange to me now, that a poor health habit is brag-worthy. People generally don’t brag about eating poorly or not working out. For the most part, there is a culture of encouragement around diet and exercise. However, no such culture of encouragement yet exists for sleeping.

Claim you want to start eating healthier, and you will likely be greeted by a chorus of encouragement. Say you want to start sleeping more, and you’ll likely get in return a series of strange looks, and perhaps even accusations of striving for laziness. There is a culture in schools that glorifies sleep deprivation. Students who function on 5 hours of sleep per night are almost revered. Certainly, the image of the normal college student includes bags under his or her eyes and a coffee near at hand. Why is this the case? Why is a culture of sleeplessness enforced among young people?

I would make the case that it comes back to the American conception of hard work and its supremacy in defining success. This country has long been one that views itself as a collection of workers, makers, and competitors. However, any cultural norm can be taken too far. When the competition to be the best becomes so vicious that health is sacrificed in the cause, this, to me, is a signal that the cultural norm of hard work has gone to too great of an extreme.

If we think about competitiveness in the classroom for a moment, the truly competitive student would understand that sleep is an important part of success. This is a rare situation where it is truly a win-win, and no one needs to lose. If the student decides sleeps more in order to feel better, the student will also do better academically. Both productivity and student health can win. On the other hand, that positive feedback loop can turn into a vicious cycle if reversed. If a student is sleep deprived, he or she will have to take more time to complete his or her work, meaning there is less time to sleep, and the cycle continues.

We can do our part to put ourselves on the right side of that cycle by not bragging about a lack of sleep and encouraging our peers to sleep more. Social forces can be incredibly influential in changing daily habits. The best way to stay consistent about going to the gym, for example, is by getting a gym buddy. If we shift the social expectation of what a good student looks like to one who gets enough sleep, we can get more people on the right side of the cycle, to the benefit of students and schools alike.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

193399
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

16762
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459288
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27428
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments