Snooze or Lose
Do You Get Enough Sleep?
Do you have trouble waking up in the morning? Do you arrive late to school because you're tired? Have you fallen asleep in class?
If you don't get enough sleep, you're not alone. Nearly half of 6th-12th graders sleep less than eight hours on school nights.* But consistently running on too little sleep can hurt your ability to get good grades, play sports well, drive safely and make good decisions. In addition, sleep deprivation can make you feel lousy – you may be cranky, depressed and more likely to get sick.
Tips for Catching ZzzsExperts suggest that teens get nine hours of sleep each night. These tips can help you get a good night's rest:
- Make sure your bedroom is cool,
dark and quiet.
- Set a regular bedtime and waketime
that allows for nine hours
of sleep each night.
- Relax before you go to bed –
try reading or listening to music.
- Don't drink a lot of caffeine,
especially after lunchtime.
- Try not to be on the computer
or playing video games too late
in the evening.
- If you have a cell phone, TV or computer in your room, turn it off before you go to bed.
| * | Source: National Sleep Foundation, www.sleepfoundation.org. |
