The Importance of Sleeping Late and the Benefits it Brings

Sleep is a crucial aspect of life, and the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep cannot be overstated. However, in today’s fast-paced world, people often neglect getting adequate rest and struggle to cope with the stress and workloads imposed upon them. Even school-going children and teenagers are not spared from this phenomenon, and they are often sleep-deprived due to their hectic schedules. In this context, it is heartening to note that sleep experts are advocating sleeping late, especially for students, to improve their health, concentration, and performance. This article explores the advantages of sleeping late and the reasons behind these recommendations.

Society is sleep-deprived
Sleep issues are prevalent in today’s society, affecting all age groups, from children to adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that school-going children need at least ten hours of sleep daily, teenagers need 9-10 hours, and adults require 7-8 hours of sleep. However, research shows that nearly 30% of adults report sleeping less than six hours per day, and only 31% of high school students get eight hours of sleep on an average school night. Furthermore, sleep-related disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and snoring affect about 50-70 million Americans, leading to fragmented and non-restful sleep. Besides, the stress and pressures of modern life also affect sleep quality, leading to sleep deprivation and its adverse consequences.

The consequences of sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that not only makes people feel tired and fatigued but also affects their physical and mental health. A study on sleep deprivation concluded that “common sleep lengths of less than 6.5 hours can be disastrous,” and while this might seem like an exaggeration, there are negative effects of sleep deprivation that are well documented. For instance, drowsy driving causes 1,550 deaths and 40,000 non-fatal injuries every year, according to the CDC. Sleep deprivation also affects teenagers negatively, leading to an inability to concentrate, poor behavior, excessive food consumption, acne, and possibly even mental health issues such as schizophrenia.

The benefits of sleeping late
Sleep experts recommend sleeping late for students, especially teenagers, because their natural sleep cycle is different from children and adults. Teenagers’ brains do not produce melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle, until 11 pm and stop producing it around 8 am, three hours later than adults. Thus teenagers who wake up early as required for school, may often have trouble concentrating or display cranky behavior due to sleep deprivation. Delaying school start times to 8:30 am or later can help ensure that teenagers get the 8.5-9.5 hours of sleep they need to develop their brains and perform their best in school.

Final Thoughts
There are clear advantages to sleeping late and adjusting school start times. Late starts can ensure that students have enough sleep and reduce the adverse effects of sleep deprivation that affect mental and physical health. Experts advise that students, especially teenagers, should have adequate sleep since their natural sleep cycle is different from adults. Initiatives such as delaying school start times can go a long way in helping to improve the sleep quality of our youth, and ultimately improve their performance and well-being.