Chat with the Chief: The value of sleep

If you’re a college student, chances are you’re not getting a healthy amount of sleep.

According to a study conducted by the University of Georgia’s Health Center, college students get an average of 6-6.9 hours of sleep per night. This is well short of the recommended amount of sleep for young adults, which is over eight hours per night.

According to campusmindworks. org, college students are one of the most sleep-deprived demographics of all, and there is a negative link between not getting enough sleep and lower GPAs.

Sleep deprivation can affect concentration, memory and the ability to learn, which are all keys toward getting the most out of a lecture session.

However, a lack of focus and comprehension during class is just the tip of the iceberg. A lack of sufficient sleep can also afflict the immune system, attribute to moodiness and cause weight gain. So continue sleeping six hours per day if you want to be an obese jerk with a bad cough.

College students are under a lot of pressure to put off sleeping, both in the classroom and in social circles.

How many times have you stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish an eight-page essay with cited sources? How many times have you been dragged out of bed for a night out with friends despite the fact that you’re dead tired after classes?

So how does one combat sleep deprivation? Vowing to sleep more is obvious but is difficult to commit to without a complete shift in philosophy. Reprioritizing one’s responsibilities to value sleep is a more lasting alternative.

It can be startling to think about the fact that humans spend about a third of their life under the veil of sleep. It may seem like wasted hours, but in reality it is critical to make those other two-thirds of one’s life healthy.

College students need to realize how vital sleep is for their physical health and psyche.