Lana Ko 13: Please Sleep More!!
Hey you! The one staring mindlessly at that glowing screen in front of you. I know what you're doing. Whether you're playing video games or on a grand doom scrolling session, you’re supposed to be sleeping right now! We all have done things similar to this, and for good reason. It is fun and adventurous to venture into the depths of the internet and while doing so, many of us overlook a key aspect of our lives: Sleep.
A person will spend an average of 26 years or one-third of their lifetime sleeping. The average person needs this sleep in order to function. Every teenager has heard the phrase “You need at least 8 hours of sleep every night,”. However in reality many of us don’t even come close to that number. So what happens when you don’t get enough sleep?
Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to mood swings, increase in stress, and difficulty focusing. Chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to a greater risk of anxiety and depression. Physically, a lack of sleep can cause weight fluctuations, acne, and a weak immune system.
When you're sleeping your brain is actively cleaning up waste products accumulated during your waking hours. Your brain is like a sponge and during the night it squeezes out all the impurities such as dead cells. When you pull that fateful all nighter in order to study for a test you are indirectly setting yourself up for a lower score. A lack of sleep is undeniably tied to an increase in brain fog and memory loss. Trying to use your brain to its fullest potential while running on 2 hours of sleep and a Red Bull is the fastest way to leave lasting impacts on your brain.
However, don't freak out. Your brain is both as valuable as it is strong and as long as a habit of unrestful sleep does not continue you should not have to worry too much! Keep in mind that one all nighter needs to be supplemented with approximately five nights of restful sleep. Goodnight!!
Hi Lana! As someone who recently made it through a school day with three hours of sleep and a sugar-free Red Bull (which tastes like cough syrup, by the way), this blog post hit a bit too close to home. Directly addressing the reader in the opening paragraph is a great way to catch their attention, and you blend scientific fact with a conversational tone for a breezy reading experience. If there is one thing I'd recommend to change in future blogs like these, it would be to support more claims with statistics and facts: for example, though you go into detail describing the importance of a good night's sleep, I would love to know a bit more about how the brain bounces back from a few all-nighters, as such information would definitely make me feel better about my own sleep habits. I would also like to see an article link for easily-accessible and in-depth information. Thank you for this timely post!
ReplyDeleteHey Lana! I appreciate you using this blog to spread your message. For the sake of students, it's crucial for everyone to understand the importance of sleeping, and I love how you convey that. Everyone's heard of the typical side effects to pulling all nighters like feeling tired, being more aggressive, loss of energy, but what you mentioned, the increase in anxiety, stress, and inconsistent weight fluctuation I think would really connect with students now, for better or for worse. I myself am guilty of choosing to procrastinate over getting enough sleep, and have had to deal with the consequences. Definitely not worth the added stress. This did feel like a read, but sometimes that's all we need haha. Thank you for spreading this message, and I look forward to reading your posts in the future!
ReplyDeleteHello Lana, I felt called out by your blog this week. I admit, I have been guilty of pulling all nighters and trying to make it through the day by chugging caffeine only to crash a few hours later. Sleep is crucial for living a healthy, balanced life and it is especially important for students. As teenagers, we are experiencing growth spurts and changes that require increased amounts of energy, which can be provided by sleep. When I do not get enough sleep the night before, I notice myself getting irritated easily and constantly thinking about going to sleep. The start of your blog immediately captured my attention, as you refer to the reader directly and reference a scenario that they are all too familiar with. I enjoyed reading your blog this week and am looking forward to reading more of your work in the future!
ReplyDeleteHi Lana! This month I know for a fact that I’ve purchased more than 10 energy drinks to keep myself awake during math in the first period. You make extremely valid points regarding the long term impacts of sleep deprivation, but the long term impacts of caffeine—something many of us consume because of sleep deprivation—are also very severe, sometimes connected to heart problems too. I’ve made it a goal to sleep before 1 am every night so that I can avoid those 400 milligrams of caffeine the next day.
ReplyDeleteYour blog uses personal pronouns which makes the overall effect of the message greater, because I feel like I am getting called out directly rather than reading a generic safety message that we all have encountered. I’m also glad that your blog involves a topic that is extremely relevant to all of us reading, as I’m certain that many readers of your blog have planned all-nighters in the next coming weeks in lieu of AP testing and other exams. Finally, I appreciate the humor that you employ throughout the blog, which makes it an enjoyable read. Your blog is very excellent and I look forward to what you have to write next week.