Teenagers are, in many ways, overstretched. Their schedules can be packed: a full day of school, family commitments, enrichment student programs, extra-curricular activities, after-school jobs, not to mention social plans. It is not surprising that teenagers fall asleep in class or look exhausted, but those are not healthy behaviors.
Problems Connected to Not Getting Enough Sleep
If people don't get enough sleep, their waking hours suffer. When teenagers do not get enough sleep, parents should look for warning signs. Tired teens:
- fall asleep in class
- struggle to concentrate
- forget important obligations
- seem impatient
- look stressed
- showing stress related behaviors
- may get sick more frequently
- look tired
School performance is directly connected to how alert a student is. Parents need to help their children maintain healthy sleeping patterns. If the school calls and says a child fell asleep, there is a problem that parents need to deal with quickly.
Teens and Bedtimes
When teenagers say they are not tired at 9:30 p.m., it is true. The "circadian rhythms" that determine human sleep cycles go through periods of adjustment in teen years and into early adulthood. Most teenagers will not be tired until 11 p.m., according to their body clocks. However, they may be mentally exhausted. Parents should help teens establish quiet times in the evening. Phone calls, video games, movies, computer usage, and reading should be discouraged after a certain hour. Some teenagers find reading relaxing, but other teenagers will end up read popular teen books until early morning hours. It is also important to discourage energy drinks before bedtime.
Teenagers may find it relaxing to journal or be reflective at the end of the day. Straightening bedrooms, picking out clothes for the next day, and focusing on the upcoming schedule of events may be helpful to teenagers to stay busy without a lot of mental engagement.
How Much Sleep Do Teens Need?
Most teenagers need about nine hours of sleep. It is important to note that this is not an average; teenagers need nine hours of sleep every night. Unfortunately, most high schools start so early that a teenager who goes to sleep at 11 pm will not get enough sleep and be at on time for school. That is why teenagers will often take naps in the afternoon or get so worn out that they sleep very late on weekends.
Many teenagers and parents think that an exhausted teenager needs help with time-management. That may be true; teens have busy lives and may need help balancing their obligations. However, teens also underestimate how much sleep they need, and are often not getting enough sleep to meet their commitments.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
