America’s Sleep Deprived Teens
missrini October 17th, 2007
The National Sleep Foundation has illuminated the growing problem of sleep deprivation among young adults. Only 20% of teenagers are getting the recommended nine hours of sleep and nearly half are getting less than eight hours on school nights. As a college student, these findings are far from astounding: many of our friends only squeeze in a few hours a sleep each night, while others pull all-nighters to prepare for impending exams. Nonetheless, the NSP sheds light on the importance of getting a good night’s rest, on the awareness gap between parents and teenagers about sleep, and on how technology distracts one from sleep. Fortunately for the sleep deprived population of teens, the NSP provides various tips for improving our habits. These include keeping a consistent sleep schedule, staying away from caffeinated drinks after lunch, and relaxing before going bed. I find these suggestions to be highly idealized. With so many things going on in our lives, from school to work, it is very difficult to incorporate a regular nine hour sleep schedule while at the same time juggle the demands of everyday commitments.
