The Impact of Sleep on Mental Health

Many people will try to squeeze in one last TikTok video before bed, and then BAM! It is suddenly 3:00 AM, and hours have been wasted. RHS students know what it feels like to come to school tired, having dealt with homework, sports, clubs, and scrolling far too late at night. They might feel irritable, distracted, or so exhausted that they could fall asleep in class. 

What does lack of sleep specifically look like at RHS? A survey of 22 anonymous students, ranging from 9th to 12th grade, revealed that when starved of ample sleep, more than half cited being more prone to distractions and generally irritable or angrier. Sleeping in class and hunger were also common. Looking at the survey’s results, when asked about time management, 22.7% stated that they would sacrifice sleep first. However, sleep is crucial to do well in school, as people are less willing to learn if they are too sleep-deprived to begin with. 

Getting enough sleep is crucial for health. It lowers potential future health issues such as low blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. This also extends to mental health and social interactions. Ninth grader Sage Wolcott observes that she regularly gets only six hours of sleep. She found that on most days, when she takes notes, it is very difficult to pay attention.

Furthermore, Sage admitted that “[she] just felt less social too.” Corroborating this, the CDC attributed good sleep to an overall improvement in mood and stress levels, as well as overall better emotional well–being. Following this, the National Health, Lung and Blood Institute notes that not enough quality sleep can “lead to problems focusing on tasks and thinking clearly.” This is crucial to succeed in school for both students and staff. Lack of sleep has countless health drawbacks, including higher risks of obesity, stroke, and heightened blood pressure. The Institute also advised that angina, chest pain, and heart attacks can stem from “a sharp increase in blood pressure and heart rate upon waking,” which may occur after poor sleep.  

Regrettably, losing sleep feels unavoidable. A majority of the causes of sleep deprivation among the survey comes from too much homework. When asked what each student would do if they finished all their work, about 41 percent said they’d go to sleep, but the rest admitted they would watch Netflix, scroll on social media, or procrastinate. To help fix that, limiting contact with electronics an hour before heading to bed will allow your brain to be calmer and less stimulated. Another method is to download an app blocker, which specializes in locking specific apps and making them unavailable until a set time. Staying up late might feel productive in the moment, but losing sleep catches up fast. AASM’s Sleep Education organization states, “Compared with people who avoided screens, those who used them before bed had a 33% higher rate of poor sleep quality.” Taking small steps, like limiting screen time or finishing work earlier, can make a huge difference.

Sleep is not something that should come last on students’ priorities. The survey shows that many RHS students struggle to balance their schoolwork, activities, social life, and sleep, and often neglect the latter, but getting enough rest enhances other aspects of life: focus, attitude, performance, and health. So, the next time you’re tempted to scroll at midnight, remember that a few extra hours of rest could be exactly what your body–and your grades–needs most.