Why We Need To Sleep
- The STEM Academy Paper
- Oct 25, 2019
- 3 min read
Ritti Bhogal
10.25.19
How many times have you chosen to study for a test or finish a project due the next day over getting a good night’s sleep? Too many times to count? You are probably not the only one. While staying up another two hours to finish up work seems to be the better option, sacrificing sleep has potentially dangerous consequences that you may want to consider the next time you have to choose between school and rest. Here are 7 reasons why you, a high school student at the Downingtown STEM Academy, need to sleep.
1. Sleep plays a significant role in retaining memories
The notes you took in class, the lectures you’ve heard today, everything you read-all of that information is organized and solidified in your brain through sleep. The process of converting temporary short-term memory to permanent long-term memory is called “consolidation”, which mostly occurs during the night. When you choose to study your notes rather than fall asleep, consolidation is far less effective, meaning you will probably forget all those notes you crammed in the night before once you wake up.
2. You are more creative when you get enough sleep
Divergent thinking, which is a person’s ability to think outside of the box or create original ideas practically disappears in a sleep-deprived brain. In a study in which participants were deprived of sleep for 32 hours, they were not able to think of multiple solutions to the same problem nearly as well as those who got a full night’s rest. Creativity is a vital part of everyday life, especially when it comes to your ability to solve day-to-day issues.
3. Good sleep allows you to make rational decisions
People who are sleep deprived will make a judgment based on their emotions rather than on logic. People who sleep for 5-6 hours or less will often make riskier decisions and they won’t even realize they are acting more dangerously. This tends to be a problem for those of us with eventful schedules. It may not be a good idea to go to an after school club and then sports practice right after when there are two unit tests tomorrow, but a sleep-deprived mind wouldn’t see the issue in taking on so many responsibilities. Consequently, this would result in more sleep loss and less proper decision-making.
4. You are less likely to get sick
While you sleep, your body releases proteins called cytokines, which play a role in preventing any sort of infection, inflammation, or attacks from viruses. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t produce as many infection-fighting antibodies as it needs and your chances of getting a cold can double. Long-term sleep deprivation can result in the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Get your sleep now before it’s too late!
5. Your brain gets the chance to clear out toxic products from being awake
Your glymphatic system provides a waste clearance system for your central nervous system, or in other words, your brain. It is most productive at night, so when you decide to skip out on a couple of hours of sleep, you’re allowing the toxins in your brain to accumulate rather than release. Some of these toxins include the β-amyloid protein, which causes Alzheimer’s. In other words, when you get 5 hours of sleep, the brain you’re using the next day is essentially a hand-me-down from yesterday. Rather than stay up late perfecting the essay you’ve written for a class, take that time to sleep and allow your brain to do its work.
6. Your attention-span and ability to focus increases
Are you dozing off in class, especially during an important lesson that is crucial to your success on the final? If you didn’t sleep enough last night, that probably explains why you can’t seem to be able to pay attention. Even losing as little as 2 hours can impact a person’s ability to complete neurobehavioral tasks, which include listening to someone say something and repeating it back word-for-word.
7. Sleep lets your body recharge for the next day
As long as you are awake, your organs are working hard to keep your body functioning. These organs include your heart, lungs, kidney, liver, and, of course, the brain. Organs need rest too, and getting enough sleep is essential to keeping your organs healthy so they can perform their role in your body. This is why you might feel exhausted after getting less sleep than necessary. As long as you don’t sleep enough, you can expect to constantly feel tired, and this can negatively affect your performance in school as well as in extra-curricular activities such as sports and clubs.
Hopefully, you’ll think twice about staying up late to get work done because chances are that you’re going to wish you got enough sleep the next day. Also, don’t forget: the recommended amount of sleep for teenagers is 8-10 hours, while for adults it’s 7-9 hours. Happy sleeping!
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