All I Want for Christmas is Sleep
Amanda Sidorowicz
Issue date: 12/8/09 Section: Opinion
The first week of December is always stressful. With due dates closing in on papers and projects, and with finals coming right around the corner, it's easy for a college student to feel overwhelmed. If you tack on a part-time/full-time job and some holiday shopping, you're left with no time to do one of the most important things: sleep.
No matter what anyone told you, you don't have to procrastinate to lose your mind - and sleep - at the end of the semester. There's a lot to do, and it seems like there's never enough time.
The recommended amount of sleep for a college student is eight to nine hours a night; however, the average student catches about six hours, according to a study by the University of Utah.
During finals time one is lucky to catch any hours of sleep, which isn't beneficial. Though writing papers or hitting the books until dawn may seem like a great way to be productive, it can cause more harm than good.
Sleep deprivation can cause physical impairment, moodiness, depression and even an impaired memory. When it comes to acing finals, a strong memory is necessary. To keep your memory sharp, sleep is essential. There have been so many nights where I went to bed feeling frustrated, but when I awoke I was pleasantly surprised. Somehow, I knew the information better.
This is because the mind needs time to restore information. While sleeping, the material isn't going to disappear, so there's no need to worry. By cramming, you risk over-taxing your short-term memory, which is why it's best to avoid this method at all costs.
Believe it or not, there's a way you can get plenty of sleep and still have enough time to finish everything. It's all about time management. Not ready? Don't worry, with one week before finals there's still time to plan ahead.
Making a list is always the most important aspect of time management. By prioritizing this list, you can assure that everything will be completed at the appropriate time.
No matter what anyone told you, you don't have to procrastinate to lose your mind - and sleep - at the end of the semester. There's a lot to do, and it seems like there's never enough time.
The recommended amount of sleep for a college student is eight to nine hours a night; however, the average student catches about six hours, according to a study by the University of Utah.
During finals time one is lucky to catch any hours of sleep, which isn't beneficial. Though writing papers or hitting the books until dawn may seem like a great way to be productive, it can cause more harm than good.
Sleep deprivation can cause physical impairment, moodiness, depression and even an impaired memory. When it comes to acing finals, a strong memory is necessary. To keep your memory sharp, sleep is essential. There have been so many nights where I went to bed feeling frustrated, but when I awoke I was pleasantly surprised. Somehow, I knew the information better.
This is because the mind needs time to restore information. While sleeping, the material isn't going to disappear, so there's no need to worry. By cramming, you risk over-taxing your short-term memory, which is why it's best to avoid this method at all costs.
Believe it or not, there's a way you can get plenty of sleep and still have enough time to finish everything. It's all about time management. Not ready? Don't worry, with one week before finals there's still time to plan ahead.
Making a list is always the most important aspect of time management. By prioritizing this list, you can assure that everything will be completed at the appropriate time.
Be the first to comment on this story