BY NAILAH QUARTEY
English 9/Mr. Davis
Los Alamos High School

As of lately, many high school students have been feeling weary and exhausted on a regular day-to-day basis. This could be a byproduct from the lack of proper sleep. Or maybe even too much work and information for a single student to retain in a day. Logically, shorter school days are better for students.

The importance of sleep varies from person to person; however, it is very essential especially for adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 60% of middle schoolers complain they don’t have enough sleep, and an average 70% of high school students report they need more sleep. The standard amount of sleep a teen should get is around 8-10 hours of sleep each night.

A majority of teens and adolescents report having trouble focusing in class due to sleep deficiency. According to Idaho State University (ISU), “A good night’s sleep is crucial to our cognitive abilities, including memory, focus, and attention, all of which are necessary for successful academic careers.” This shows the importance of sufficient sleep for studies and overall focus across all teenagers. 

But how should we be able to balance a good sleep schedule and school? Schools have begun to shorten school hours to ensure the best learning ability for students in class. Though, some will argue that even if school hours are shortened, it makes no difference in their sleep schedule, due to their bad sleep habits. Nevertheless, good sleep schedules are set with less stress over work, and setting up efficient bedtime schedules. The National Sleep Foundation claims that, “Getting enough sleep from a regular sleep schedule can make it easier for you to cope with daily stress and less likely to be impacted by minor negative things that can come up.” Shortening school hours will assure a student’s mental health and ability to learn in class by allowing students to have more time out of school to do homework, sports, etc. Leaving more time for after school activities gives students more time to sleep, leaving them energized and ready to learn the next day. 

Shorter school days enforce healthier sleep schedules across many adolescents and boosts their ability to focus and learn in classes. Additionally, it gives students the freedom and opportunity to balance work and after school activities while also maintaining a proper sleep schedule. In short, setting up reasonable school hours impacts a student’s well being while also inducing better sleep.

Annotated Bibliography

Cusack, Taylor. “Articles.” Articles | Idaho State University, https://www.isu.edu/cob/blog/articles/how-sleep-impacts-your-studies.html. Accessed 13 May 2024.

This article is written by Cusack, who is a graduate assistant at the University of Idaho State. She briefly explains the impact of sleep on the studies of a college student. She covers the topics of focus, memory, emotions, creativity, and overall physical health, and how they are all being impacted by the average amount of sleep from a college student. She also notes that receiving a proper amount of sleep each night is crucial to one’s academic success. 

“Setting a Regular Sleep Schedule.” National Sleep Foundation, 13 September 2023, https://www.thensf.org/setting-a-regular-sleep-schedule/. Accessed 13 May 2024.

This article is published by the National Sleep Foundation. They imply what is suggested to promote better sleep, how to set up good sleep schedules, and the do’s and don’ts in a habitual sleep schedule. Additionally, they recommend what should be done if one doesn’t feel they’re not receiving enough sleep, such as getting an extra 1-2 hours of sleep on weekends to restore lost sleep. All in all, it is important to prioritize sleep, keep consistency each and every night, and use helpful reminders and alarms for good sleep.

“Sleep and Health | Healthy Schools | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/sleep.htm. Accessed 13 May 2024. This article is published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here, critical information is provided on the basis of proper sleep. As said in the article,  children are at risk of several unfavorable health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, and behavioral problems for nightly insufficient sleep. In this article, fair warnings are being provided, along with reliable facts and statistics on proper amounts of sleep in adolescents.