Sleeping Well

Help at Rice

Sleep--a natural state of rest characterized by reduced body movement and decreased awareness of surroundings. Life can be hectic as a Rice student, and sleep is often perceived as a luxury, rather than a necessity. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average young adult seems to need about 8 hours of sleep per night to function optimally during waking hours. Some people, however, sleep just 6 or 7 hours a night, while others need more than 9 hours to feel rested. Determining the right amount of sleep for your body and then prioritizing it is important.

Why should you worry about getting 8 full hours of sleep? Sufficient sleep helps us think more clearly, complete complex tasks better and more consistently and enjoy everyday life more fully. Sleep is, in essence, food for the brain, and insufficient sleep can be harmful, even life-threatening. Consequences of sleep deprivation include:

• Increased risk of unintentional injuries and death.
• Low grades and poor school performance.
• Negative moods (e.g., anger, sadness and fear), difficulty controlling emotions and behavior problems.
• Increased likelihood of stimulant use.

When hungry for sleep, the brain becomes relentless in its quest to satisfy its need and will cause feelings of "sleepiness," decreased levels of alertness or concentration, and, in many cases, unanticipated sleep. Excessive sleepiness is also associated with reduced short-term memory and learning ability, negative mood, inconsistent performance, poor productivity and loss of some forms of behavioral control (NIH, 1997). Take our quiz to find out more about your sleep.