Early to bed, early to rise, makes the student wise!
![]() Image courtesy of http://sleepzine.com |
Sleep deprivation has been linked to obesity and illness according to WebMD Sleep Disorder Guide. It is important that we get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Sleep helps keep our immune systems healthy. Today’s students have so much going on in their lives that they lose track of time and sleep. Not only is it important to get a good night’s sleep, but it is also important that students manage their time wisely. "I do all my homework and studying as soon as I get home from school. That way I have time to rest and go to bed early," said Le Anna Peña, a sophomore Accounting major at Palo Alto College. |
Today we are faced with so many distractions that people often lose sleep procrastinating and focusing on other things, like talking to friends on Facebook, texting, watching TV or just surfing the Internet. "Being on the Internet in general is a huge distraction. Whenever I’m on the Internet doing research or homework, I get distracted by social networking sites because I feel the need to talk to friends or check my messages," said Valerie Zapata, a sophomore undecided major at Palo Alto College. Lack of sleep makes it more difficult for students to concentrate in school and succeed. They go to class tired and sleepy, and it makes it more difficult for them to stay awake in class. "There is always a bunch of work to do for school, and sometimes it’s hard to get to sleep early because I stay up really late studying," said Destinee Aguallo, a sophomore Biology major at Palo Alto College. When students don’t get enough sleep, it often leads to them getting sick, constantly being tired and stressed. Here are some ways you can avoid sleep deprivation: Turn off the TV at night, switch to caffeine-free drinks, limit after-school activities, do something relaxing before going to sleep, don’t play video games before going to sleep and turn off your cell phone. To help yourself fall asleep at night, play music, but not too loudly, because it can disrupt your sleep. Or, try reading a book and drinking "chamomile tea." It also helps to study right before bed because it helps to store information. Time management is the ability to properly plan and use time in order to promote efficiency and productivity, according to Woopidoo Business Glossary. It is very important to create some type of schedule to help with the chaos that goes on in our lives. One thing you should do to stay organized is to buy a calendar and schedule everything from homework to appointments to relaxation time. "I use a student planner to keep myself up to date with homework, tests and appointments. It really helps out a lot with time management," said Aguallo. |