The following was authored by Health & Wellness Editor Quinn Bradley…

Sleep: a concept many DKU students know little about. From late nights studying in the library to activities with friends in resident building lobbies, the DKU campus is alive and active at night. But to what extent do these students get sleep, and how might this affect their productivity and health?

A culture of sleep deprivation

Interviewing students at DKU, it becomes clear that there is a fostered culture of sleep deprivation at the school. Zofia Nowak, a sophomore, says she often falls asleep around 3 am on average. When asked why this is, she states, “I just can’t seem to fall asleep.” When asked what she does with this time, she explains “I work during this time. I either do my job or study.” Despite the lack of sleep through the night, Zofia states “I’m usually not tired… Getting up is really not that different after getting up after eight hours or after four or five.”

When concluding our conversation, Zofia stated that she feels more productive staying up later. Zofia’s relationship with sleep is shared by many students at DKU. At any hour of the night, you can find students studying in the library, socializing in the lobbies, or shut in their rooms, doing anything but sleeping. One student stated “If I don’t sleep as much, I get work done. When I do sleep more, I feel like I’m falling behind in my classes.”

A culture of sleep deprivation at DKU, fueled by academic pressures, social engagements, and personal habits has led to a lack of sleep for many students. Many students find themselves sacrificing sleep to meet deadlines, cram for exams, and partake in late night activities. The stresses of academic life have led many students to prioritize productivity over rest and wellbeing.

When asking students if they feel well rested, the most common answer is “no, I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” While exact data may not be known, just walking around campus at midnight you can see students active. Even going to the library at night, even after the doors have locked, students are barricaded in study rooms, glued to their chairs and have their heads in their laptops studying, preparing for their rigorous coursework.

This culture of sleep deprivation has even seeped into decision making, with some students refusing to take classes at 8:30, because they know they will not wake up on time. Lectures full at the beginning of the semester dwindle in attendance as the session goes on, with students more tired than ever skipping class in the hope of getting another hour of sleep.

While this sleep is important, it should not sacrifice the importance of learning in university. This sleep scheduling issue has carried on from coursework to attendance to health, and many students are oblivious to the problems they cause both academically, mentally, and physically.

The science of sleep, why is it important?

The quality of sleep is not only about its duration, but also about its depth and ability to restore an individual’s energy. Although everyone requires a different amount of sleep to feel well rested, 7-9 hours is recommended as this is the average amount of sleep needed to be well rested.

Lack of sleep can result in poor productivity, lack of awareness, impaired memory, and excessive daytime drowsiness. For students, this is the exact opposite of what they want, especially when preparing for a stressful exam. Sleep is an important part of recovering and processing information for memory retention. With less sleep, even after studying, information is less likely to be retained. To study most effectively, adequate sleep is required.

How to get more, and better sleep

Now that we know the issues behind lack of sleep plaguing students, how do we fix it?

First, make sleep a priority. It sounds simple, but incorporating sleep into your daily schedule at a consistent time is critical to better sleep. Consistency is key, going to sleep then waking up at the same time, avoiding going to sleep too late or sleeping in on the weekends is all part of a consistent sleep schedule.

Secondly, limiting your light exposure. Shutting off any screens or lights before going to sleep can be incredibly beneficial for sleep.

Third, limiting caffeine intake. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 8 hours, so consuming caffeine wisely is important when planning your sleep.

Fourth, napping wisely. While they can be beneficial in aiding daytime drowsiness, they cannot compare to the quality of nighttime sleep. Additionally, sleeping too long during the day can impact your ability to fall asleep later in the night.

Final thoughts

Currently, a healthy sleep schedule is lacking by many of the students of DKU. Sleep is an essential part of our lives and should not be neglected. Through individual action in prioritizing sleep in daily life, students can hope to increase their physical, mental, and academic performance.