Oh, the peaceful feeling you get when you’re lying in your big comfy bed in the state of unconsciousness also known as sleep. Those eight or so hours seem like the most enjoyable part of someone’s day, but how much sleep is enough sleep? How much is too much? According to the Mayo Clinic, as people age, they tend to need less sleep than when they were younger. Toddlers they need 12 to 14 hours of sleep a night. Teens you need 10 to 11 hours of sleep. Adults only need seven to eight hours each night. The majority of JHS students do not get this much. Often in my classes, I see people with their heads down, sunglasses on, and ear buds in. Many teachers are upset about this because low attention means low grades.
Personally, I don’t see how those few extra hours at night can be so rewarding that they make up for that terrible, exhausted feeling you feel through the whole next day. What could you possibly be doing at midnight that cannot wait for the next day? If you are texting with a boyfriend/girlfriend simply tell them you need to go to bed. If the boy/girlfriend find this childish or stupid, is he/she really someone you want to be with? Having a set “bedtime” each night gives your body a schedule to follow that is consistent and easier to manage. When sleeping in until 11 on the weekends, some teenager’s say they are just making up for lost sleep during the week. Sleeping more than 12 hours a night gives you the same feeling as only getting six hours. When you sleep too much, your body becomes permanently in a state of unconsciousness for the rest of the day. Also, by sleeping too much, you skip breakfast which has been said to be the most important meal of the day. Combine the two and you have not started off your day very well.
Sleep may seem like such a silly thing to be thinking about as a teenager. You’ve got the gossip on Facebook and the cute boy in your sixth hour to worry about, but none of those things matter if you are not conscious enough to logically think about them. So the next time you feel like starting a conversation with someone or going out at 10 at night, turn your phone off, climb into your pajamas, and have a good night’s sleep.