You Still Need Sleep!

Now you’re in college you work hard; play hard; and seldom go home. But you still need sleep! This is one of those times when you can learn the hard way that mom was right all along....or you can learn the easy way. It's tricky to balance homework, friends, parties, and fun and often time sleep is what gives to let you do everything you want to do. But that will catch up with you - usually around finals when it matters the most. 


The next time you're tempted to pull an all-nighter, consider these 5 facts:

• Every night you need to experience four to five sleep cycles, which are made up of four different stages. Each stage is quite different and is designed to maintain bodily well-being and good mental health.
• When young, your body produces growth hormones when in a deep sleep. Sure you’re pretty much finished with the growth spurts but, still, a little more growth isn’t bad for you.
• Sleep may well help you lose the Freshman Fifteen. It’s common knowledge that Freshmen will gain weight. Recent studies suggest this may be tied to your new-found lack of sleep. When you don’t sleep your leptin levels go down (causing you to not feel satisfied after eating for the entire next day) and causes your ghrelin levels to increase (meaning your appetite is stimulated so you want more food). A very bad combination if you need to lose a few pounds.
• Deep sleep is when when your body mends its cells and strengthens your immune system. If you pull a lot of all nighters (for fun or work alike) you'll get sick more easily. This is why you always get sick during finals.
• A person kept awake for long periods will die after ten days of total sleep deprivation. So, pulling all nighters right before a big test is not your best plan. Sleep deprivation leaves you unable to think cohesively, prone to hallucinations, and unable to perform simple cognitive tasks like counting from 1 to 100.  Sleep early the night before a big test for maximum performance.  
  

Just think, if you get the sleep you’ll need, you’re more likely to ace your tests while keeping your party body ready for Spring Break!

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