“Ha!  Yeah, right!” students in fifth hour chemistry ridiculed the irony of the newest well-intentioned posters to grace Sion’s hallways advising students to get at least nine hours of sleep to improve their grades.  A discussion on homework followed, most students agreeing they would never be able to complete their assignments if they increased their time spent sleeping.  They established a class average of a mere six to seven hours of sleep a night before the bell rang.

Parents, teachers and coaches often remind students to get more sleep, and the reaction is usually similar to the guffaws following the posters’ debut: a mix of disbelief and wistful thinking.  But what if the concern over sleep deserves some serious attention?  Recent research certainly argues it does.

Lack of sleep often leads to an inability to focus, weakening of the immune system, poorer eating habits and weight gain in adolescents, according to the National Sleep Foundation.  Students often desperately catch up on sleep on the weekends, upsetting their biological clock.  Some even parallel this drowsiness and inconsistent schedule to being permanently jet-lagged, according to NBC.com.  It’s no surprise this “jet-lag” and lack of focus greatly hinder academic performance.

Sleep deprivation has more serious effects as well, contributing to depression, suicidal thoughts and careless driving, according to the New York Times.  Clearly, getting enough sleep is a crucial part of maintaining one’s mental health as well.

To curb sleep deprivation in the adolescent population as a whole, serious changes are needed.  Some school districts have reported great success when starting school later.  When a Minnesota school district moved its schedule back 30 minutes, it reported an immediate increase in test scores and grade point averages.  Furthermore, the amount of time students spent doing homework decreased significantly as they became more alert, according to the New York Times.

Dr. Judith Owens, director of sleep medicine at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, echoes the results of delaying school start times, calling this change a “key factor” to optimize the day academically and physically.

Until these changes are implemented on a larger scale, students should try to take matters into their own hands as much as possible.  Starting homework earlier and avoiding screens an hour before bed can make it easier to go to bed early.  On weekends, it’s best not to wake up later than an hour after one’s weekday schedule even if he or she is behind on sleep, according to the Sleep Foundation.

While nine hours of sleep is unrealistic for most teenagers, a slightly earlier bedtime or later start time should not be.  Now is the time for schools and students to wake up the research regarding adolescent sleep deprivation.