Health Benefits Of Quality Sleep For College Students
Most college students are already familiar with the concept of sleeping for success. However, hectic schedules, busy social lives, and misplaced priorities mean that creating room for adequate slumber is a challenge. Recent studies show that over 70% of college students are not getting the quality sleep they need to succeed.
Author:Katharine TateReviewer:Karan EmeryNov 27, 20235.9K Shares101.1K Views
Most college students are already familiar with the concept of sleeping for success. However, hectic schedules, busy social lives, and misplaced priorities mean that creating room for adequate slumber is a challenge. Recent studies show that over 70% of college students are not getting the quality sleep they need to succeed. The implications of the poor sleeping habits are dire, as shown in this article.
How Much Sleep Do College Students Need?
The amount of sleep college students need will vary depending on, among other factors, your age, lifestyle, and schedule. Younger people need relatively more sleep than their counterparts. That said, experts recommend that college students and young adults should get between 7and nine hours of quality uninterrupted sleep each night.
Getting this much sleep will help you avoid daytime drowsiness, mood disturbances, and weight gain. That said, recent studies show that most college students only get about five hours of sleep on average, exposing them to considerable health and safety risks. Instead of staying up all night working on assignments, consider getting custom WriteMyEssayssupport online.
Of course, some students try to catch up on the sleep they lose during the week by waking up late during the weekends and holidays. Unfortunately, experts warn that this habit is counterproductive and does not have any extra benefits. Sleeping beyond the required nine hours can also be bad for your health and well-being.
Why Do College Students Need to Sleep More?
College students should understand that quality sleep is a necessity and not a luxury. Performing at optimal levels and being of sound emotional well-being will depend on how well you sleep. Furthermore, evidence shows that your sleep state enables your brain to absorb new information and better synthesize your knowledge and experiences. Here are some notable reasons why college students need to sleep better.
Quality Sleep Benefits Your Immune System
One of the main reasons why college students are asked to sleep better is the relationship between sleep hygiene and immune health. Over the recent years, research on the benefits of sleep has improved showing how the quality of your slumber affects each area of your body. Understand that your immune system is crucial for your health as it affects your ability to fight infections and ability to heal when hurt. A strong immune system also helps protect you against chronic and life-threatening infections.
Your immune response, such as that triggered by a viral infection can affect your ability to fall asleep. Furthermore, getting quality sleep consistently strengthens your immune system, improving your ability to remain healthy. On the other hand, sleep deprivation weakens your immune system. In the long term, therefore, lacking sleep can make you at risk of chronic diseases.
Sleep Affects Concentration and Alertness
Do you often find yourself forgetting things you feel you should be remembering? Do you find it challenging to focus when working on complex assignments? If so, check the quality and quantity of your sleep and you will find that you are getting less than the recommended seven hours of slumber. Evidence shows that a consistent lack of sleep can diminish your ability to think clearly and monitor your emotions. Those who don’t sleep well tend to feel foggy during the day and can report diminished performance. A solution to hectic schedules that could be keeping you awake at night is to buy essays online.
Sleep Supports Weight Management
Recent studies show that the quantity of sleep you get can be just as important as exercise and diet when it comes to weight management. Sleep is important as it helps you prevent weight gain linked to short sleep. Here, short sleep implies getting fewer than seven hours of slumber during the night. Studies consistently link short sleep with a higher body mass index and considerable weight gain.
According to a recent study, there is a 40% higher risk of obesity among young adults getting less than 7 hours of slumber each night. Another study found that sleeping for shorter periods is linked to greater weight circumference. Lack of sleep affects hunger levels, making people consume more calories than they should. It also leads to the release of ghrelin, telling the brain that you need to consume more food. Sleeping can also help you moderate your appetite.
Sleep Is Instrumental in Stress Management
Life as a college student is stressful with assignments and bills making it hard to enjoy campus life. Work and relationship issues can affect how your body works, making it hard to fall and stay asleep. Furthermore, evidence shows that not getting adequate sleep can also worsen your stress levels. The secret to creating a balance is finding out what’s stressing you and keeping you awake when you should be sleeping. Remember, stress can also interfere with your sleep cycles, affecting the restfulness and the quality of your sleep.
Students should understand that getting quality sleep is a significant stress reducer. When students stick to a regular sleep routine, their bodies are calmed and restored. Their concentration is improved and their mood becomes better. Sleep also enhances your decision-making and judgment. Because you are rested after a good night's sleep, you are a better problem solver and can cope with stressful events much better.
The Bottom Line
The truth is that the quality of your sleep affects different aspects of your college life, including your concentration during lectures, your ability to complete tasks, and your mental health. The quality of your sleep will affect your ability to manage your emotions and cope with challenging situations. Stress management can also be challenging if you don’t get enough slumber.
Several strategies can help with stress management, ensuring that your stress levels don’t interfere with the quality of your sleep. College students can improve the quality of their sleep by creating a bedtime routine. This means going to sleep and waking up around the same time each night. Avoid doing non-sleep-related activities like watching movies or eating on your bed. Consider taking time to relax and unwind before going to bed. A routine like taking a shower or getting a massage before bed can help you fall and stay asleep.
Katharine Tate
Author
Karan Emery
Reviewer
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