How Much Should a high school Student Sleep?

by Josey Dehmann

Most teenagers do not get the right amount of sleep they need. They don’t even see the issue with not getting enough sleep. Yes, not getting enough sleep just means you might be a little extra tired the next day, but not getting enough sleep can be more than that. Humans need sleep so our body and mind can rest. Our bodies and minds work hard all day and need time to relax. Lack of sleep has negative effects on our bodies.

How much sleep should a teen get each night? Nationwide Children's Hospital says teens should get around nine and one fourth hours of sleep each night. Most teens only sleep about seven hours each night. Nationwide Children's said that after hitting puberty you fall asleep around two hours after you did prior to hitting puberty. Teens or high schoolers typically start school earlier. It is important to get a decent amount of sleep each night.

There are many negative effects of not having enough sleep. First effect, not getting enough sleep can make you more moody and frustrated easier. Lack of sleep will hurt your grades in school. Being tired harms your attention, awareness, memory, and decision making. Students who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be late to school from trying to catch up on sleep in the morning. They also are more likely to get bad grades. Also, people/students who do not get the right amount of sleep are more likely to fall asleep while driving between the hours of 3-4 pm and 2-4 am.

Falling asleep can be a little tricky some nights, but sleep is important, so there are a few simple things that can be fixed in everyday life to make it easier to sleep. Nationwide Children's Hospital says that trying to go to sleep around the same time everyday can get your body in a schedule and make it easier for you to get sleep. Taking naps is a good way to catch up on sleep, if you take them at the right time for the right amount of time. Naps are only supposed to be about 15-20 minutes long. The best time to take naps is in the early afternoon. People who don’t drink or do drugs are more likely to get the right amount of sleep. Limiting caffeine also helps you get to sleep faster.