Students acknowledge that sleep is essential for health, especially at their age. However, most are unable to prioritize sleep over schoolwork.
Most students hold sleep near the top of their priority list, yet despite this, most don’t sleep until they’ve completed their homework and studied for their upcoming classes.
“It’s not only homework but also having to make sure you’re prepared for the next class and studying properly. I know because I learned the hard way,” said Zara Hai, a senior.
With academics and good grades being highly competitive in the Bay Area, many students internalize the importance of good grades and trying in school out of obligation or fear of the future.
Despite the importance of sleep, students are less inclined to focus on this aspect of their development.
“Sleep is number one. However, if I have work that needs to be done, it will be more important than sleep,” said Ryan Wong, a sophomore.
Students who play sports are further impacted by sleep loss; sports and homework take up both their time and energy.
“Sports definitely impact my sleep schedule, especially because when I get home, I’m really tired, and I still need to do a lot of homework, and doing sports takes much of my time,” said Alexa Negrete, a sophomore.
Sleep is vital to physical health, mental health, and productivity throughout the day, and most students are well aware of this.
“I would say sleep probably comes after all of the work I have to do,” Hai said, “I think sleep is incredibly important to not only high schoolers but to everyone who needs energy, who needs to protect their mental health and physical health. It’s connected to everything, and it just makes you feel better as a person.”
Seniors report losing more sleep in their later years of high school, saying that they slept much more in their first year than their sleep habits now.
Many students like to sleep, saying they would like to sleep more if they didn’t have schoolwork and homework to prioritize in their daily lives.
“I think the importance of sleep is for growth, the growth of both the brain and body. Because we are still children who are still growing and haven’t reached our full potential as adults, sleep is important for that growth,” Wong said.