3 Ways to Help Teenagers Get More, Better Sleep

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I am one of those students at my high school who people call the "try-hard" or the "know-it-all," and they're right. I strive to do my best so I can go the best possible college when I graduate. But I get ABSOLUTELY no sleep. Recently I've been starting to take NyQuil at 9:00 and usually fall asleep around 10. Its been wonderful, and yes, I know its awful for you. I wish they could come out with a drug that you do not need a prescription for to help kids sleep. I wake up at 5:30 every morning, yet I used to fall asleep around 2am. It's ridiculous. You'd think schools would learn by now that teens can't fall asleep on their own, no matter how much they may want to.

Haley of PA 9:22PM March 19, 2012

I am an honors student who practices soccer twice a week with a game on the weekend. That's it. Nothing else. Yet each night the time I go to bed varies from 11:30 to 2:30, I work on homework in my bed at midnight just so I can toss it on the floor when done, and get to sleep faster. My homework's always finished and I have straight A's, but really at what cost? I cried when I read this article because I realized how unhealthy school is making me, and how much the education system needs to change. Now.
(Bet you can't guess what I was doing before going online? Schoolwork at 9:30pm on Saturday so I can have less tomorrow)

Anna of WA 12:49AM October 10, 2010

I'm a junior in high school. I'm taking pretty standard classes, not including advanced English and AP math. Thanks to where I live, I have an unusually long day. I wake up every morning at six and leave my house at seven to catch the bus. I get home around 4:45 (yes, that's on the bus). Like said above, I would have to be asleep by 8 to get a good ten hours of sleep. I usually finish my homework, no breaks except about half an hour for dinner, around 9 or 9:30. I get as much sleep as I can, but it's hard.
The reason we are still on the school schedule we are on is because of parents' work schedules. Frankly, I think it's a stupid reason to keep it the way it is. I suggest we start school at noon, with lunch, and go until 6:30. I add the extra half an hour for another food-break near the end of the day. We really need to eat more times during the day. After all, it is proven that a higher number of smaller meals is better for weight control, since it keeps your stomach small.

Marian of OR 1:19AM September 12, 2010

If a teenager has to get up at 6am , he or she would have to ne in bed with lights out by 8pm to get 10 hours of shut eye sleep. Are there many teens going to bed this early on a regular basis?

John of MD 10:45PM July 10, 2010

Given UWNWR's expertise in college admissions, you should publish some stories and conversations about why 10 hours of sleep is impossible for teenagers attending competitive, or even less than competitive high schools and who are trying to get into college -- hours and hours of homework and extra-curriculars preclude most teens in these schools from getting 10 hours of sleep.

lamere of IL 9:15PM May 13, 2010

WE simply don't have time to think about bed times, nor do we want a bed time. In high school some of us are adults and most of us will not listen to adults who try to push a bed time on us. Most of the kids I know would just laugh, go to their room and stay awake anyways. I think the whole problem is that we're in school from 8:30AM to 3:30PM. Scientific studies show that our brains, aka the teenage mind, doesn't wake up until about 1pm. By the time it's 1pm it's almost time to leave and I'm exhausted. The school schedualing is ridiculous and needs to be fixed. Say no to the bed times, say yes to a reformation of the educational systems!

Holly Anna of GA 5:24PM May 13, 2010

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hotel thailand of 11:56AM April 21, 2010

Lying in bed for 3-4 hours before sleep is not restful. People should be able to fall asleep within 15 minutes of lying down. If this is not the case, the reason for this delay should be discovered and eliminated, be it evening caffeine, nutrient imbalance, excessive noise/distractions, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, insufficient exercise, or some other problem with sleeping.
Sleep is important. Take problems with sleeping seriously, because they can seriously wreck your daytime.

Dan of WI 7:40PM April 05, 2010