Note: This article was in the works before school closures became widespread. The information is still relevant for when routines go back to normal!
March is National Sleep Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time to spotlight the importance of sleep in our daily lives and encourage everyone to learn about habits, practices, and routines that improve our sleep quality and overall health. This is especially important as schools across the country grapple with the spread of coronavirus because sleep helps boost your immune system, as well as on the heels of Daylight Saving Time when most Americans lose an hour of sleep.
The world’s largest online homework help community Brainly surveyed 1,700 high school students (enrolled in public school, ages 14-18) to find out about their sleep habits and how it impacts their schoolwork, stress levels, and overall wellness.
Brainly's survey revealed some shocking statistics about the number of students who don't get enough sleep. Nationwide, 78% of high school students report not getting enough sleep each night.
“Research has proven getting enough sleep is not only vital to academic success, but it also improves your immune system, boosts your mood, enhances memory recall, and reduces stress,” said Eric Oldfield, Brainly’s Chief Business Officer. “Many people overlook the fact that sleep is even more important for teenagers because their bodies and minds are growing.”
Brainly’s student sleep survey also revealed that:
- 65% of students feel constantly tired or low energy.
- 43% of students say their homework assignments cut into nightly sleep time.
- 51% of students feel rushed or stressed in the mornings because they do not wake up with enough time to get ready and out the door before school.
- 79% of students say they’ve fallen asleep during class at least once this school year.
“One of the things high schoolers can do to ensure they have maximum snooze time is to stay organized. Having everything ready for school the night before allows more time to sleep in the morning. Similarly, having an organized, dedicated homework space can help cut down on time spent doing school assignments in the evening,” said Oldfield.
According to Brainly’s survey, the top 5 states where high schoolers reported getting enough sleep each night were:
- Michigan (62%)
- Oklahoma (59%)
- New Mexico (59%)
- Iowa (58%)
- Utah (57%)
“It’s good to know some students are getting sufficient sleep; however, it’s a big problem that many students across the country aren’t getting enough sleep, which often impacts their academics. Another way to help ensure students are getting the critical sleep they need is to establish nightly routines and stick to them,” says Oldfield.
Why do so few students get enough sleep?
While we can’t tell from our survey results exactly why so few students get enough sleep, we do know this is something nearly all Americans deal with. Lack of sufficient sleep is particularly troublesome for high school students because their minds and bodies are still growing and sleep is critical for that.
How can parents advocate for more reasonable workloads from schools?
Homework struggles and large take-home assignment workloads are a fact of life for students and parents. Students need homework to practice and cement the lessons they’re learning in the classroom, and parents can help them manage this homework load by utilizing online resources for homework help such as Brainly.
How can families help teens prioritize activities and have enough time to sleep?
Families can help students prioritize their activities and ensure they have enough time to sleep by creating an organized schedule and sticking to it. Having everything ready for school the night before allows more time to sleep in the morning. Similarly, having an organized, dedicated homework space can help cut down on time spent doing school assignments in the evening
What can students do to maximize the sleep time they do get and make sure it is restful?
Students can maximize the sleep time they get and ensure it’s restful by limiting distractions in their bedroom and turning off notifications on all of their devices.
For more information about National Sleep Awareness Month, visit https://www.sleepfoundation.
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