Sleep is vital for people to function, and we can only live so long without it.
In studies conducted by psychologists a person can only stay awake for about eight consecutive days before the body begins to shut down and try and get some sleep.
“Normal research subjects have remained awake for eight to 10 days in carefully monitored experiments,” said to J. Christian Gillian, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, who studies sleep. “On the other hand, all of them showed progressive and significant deficits in concentration, motivation, perception and other higher mental processes as the duration of sleep deprivation increased.”
While most students might not push themselves that far, insomnia can be a relevant and rampant issue among the student population. Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep even when the opportunity to get rest presents itself, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
One of the common types of insomnia is an acute case of being unable to get rest. Most of the time this is brought on by stress and anxiety according to the NSF and usually resolves without treatment.
Personally, I’ve had several months at a time where I could count on one hand the nights I had slept more than four or five hours. In cases like that, the insomnia is classified as chronic.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to go to the doctor to get sleeping pills. More often a combination of addressing underlying issues — like sleep disorders, potential medical problems and psychological components — will solve the problem.
You should stop and consider why you’re having trouble sleeping before popping any melatonin or other sleep aids. Insomnia can be a symptom of depression or a result of high anxiety levels, according to the NSF. To work on healthy sleeping habits, you might need some counseling for how to handle stress instead of a drink or two to help you fall asleep.
I think students should make an effort to keep a consistent schedule when it comes to sleep. A recent 2019 poll by the NSF showed that people who went to bed at a consistent time in the evenings scored higher on their healthy sleep index. Plus, as students we need all the sleep we can get. It helps solidify memory, which includes anything you’ve actually studied that day, and gives the body a chance to recharge.
Students also need to manage stress to ensure a restful night. Being able to prepare for exams and presentations is important but so is handling any stress that comes with them. Worrying about if you’ve studied enough certainly won’t help you sleep when you need it the evening before a test.
Point being, don’t worry too much if you can’t sleep. Even the people in lab settings who stay awake for days at a time return can return to normal sleeping patterns in just a few nights according to Gillian. A few nights of restless sleep won’t kill you but make an effort to be kind to yourself and catch a few more z’s.
