Sleep deprivation common this time of year for college students

By Keturah Tobias

Staff Writer

By the time Hayden Jordan is ready to go to bed after spending hours doing homework, it is already 2 a.m., and it’s time to take three melatonin gummies– four if they don’t hit hard enough.

Every day college students across the country suffer from sleep deprivation.

According to Shelley D. Hershner and Ronald D. Chervin, both who work in the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan, about 50% of students reported daytime sleepiness, and about 70% had insufficient sleep.

The impact of insufficient sleep can result in lower grade point averages, increased risk of academic failure, compromised learning, and impaired mood.

Jordan, a senior and teacher’s assistant for Erica Hayden, a history professor, struggles with balancing extracurricular activities and schoolwork, all while managing his chronic illness. It doesn’t help to be a procrastinator, either, which puts a speed bump in his progress to get work done.

Jordan averages about five to six hours of sleep during the week and six to
eight hours on the weekends. He loves going to brunch and church during that time, too. He drinks coffee to help push him through the day, but since it’s not recommended for his chronic health issues, he has been leaning toward decaf teas and melatonin at night.

“I guess the school could send a bottle of melatonin to students monthly to encourage us to sleep,” said Jordan. “Counseling center and one-on-one conversations would help, too.”

Wes Twining, a freshman religion major, takes part in theatre, cross country, and track and field. Taking part in all of these extracurriculars has made sleep difficult for him. Twining averages about six hours during the school week and eight hours on weekends. Unfortunately, Twining feels more rushed whenever he’s sleep-deprived in his academic performance.

“We have Benson meetings and room checks at 10 p.m., and they go until 11, and we would have a lift at 6 a.m. the following day,” said Twining.

Like many other college students, Twining uses soda and energy drinks to keep pushing through the day.

“Depending on the student, having a bad sleep cycle can lead to stress and eventually burnout,” said Jerkins.

The primary triggers she has seen are stress, academics, schedules, and extracurricular activities. She has also noticed that students have too much on their plate, and sleep is usually the first thing that gets pushed to the side.

Jerkins encourages students to take advantage of the counseling center whenever they feel burned out or stressed to the point where they cannot sleep. If students are having trouble sleeping because of worrying about what they need to do, she suggests writing a note on a sticky note or their phone notes app so they can focus on sleeping.

Jerkins also says meditations and melatonin may work, but it varies for each person.

“I like to recommend some sort of tea to students, like chamomile or Sleepytime tea. It helps relax them. A certain type of magnesium is good for sleep. I would recommend looking and doing your own research on something or talking to your doctor,” said Jerkins.