Research shows teens need sleep

A day in the life of a teenager is very busy, and it’s easy for  teens to put sleep on the bottom of their list of priorities. Although it’s easy to skip it, sleep is an essential part of the daily life of anyone at any age. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that those aged 13-18 years need eight-10 hours of sleep for every 24 hours.

A teenager’s sleep affects almost every aspect of their life. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine claims that sleep deprivation affects academic performance, emotional and physical health, decision-making processes, and relates to accidents inducing injuries.

“Some days I get the recommended eight-nine hours of sleep, but other days I get as little as five-six hours because of sports and homework,” said Isabela Hafermann, a freshman at Holmes. Aubrey Wiedman, a sophomore, said, “I usually get seven and a half hours of sleep.”

Both said that the amount of time that they sleep affects the next day. “If my sleep schedule changes I get irritated pretty easily because I really value my sleep,” Wiedman said.

According to Hafermann, getting a good nights’ sleep depends on what she does before going to bed. “Before bed, I try to stay off my phone and aim to read or draw a little to relax my mind.” 

“I drink a glass of ice water and listen to a meditation because it makes me sleep deeper,” Wiedman said.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends removing electronics from your bedroom, avoiding eating before bed and going to bed at the same time consistently to help with sleep.