Sleep should be considered a priority for everyone, including students at Elizabethtown College.
For Americans ages 18 to 29, 54 percent report getting seven hours of sleep or more and 46 percent report getting six hours or less, according to a study conducted by Gallup. On average, Americans get 6.8 hours of sleep per day.
According to the Sleep Foundation, people ages 18 to 29 should get approximately seven to nine hours of sleep per day. However, when you’re a college student, you can lose track of time and may get less sleep than recommended.
When you’re taking a minimum of 12 credits or more, plus balancing extracurricular activities, a social life and possibly a job, sleep is absolutely necessary.
Getting the recommended amount of sleep can benefit you as it increases focus throughout the day, lessens irritability and increases physical health. These health benefits can be impaired when you get less than the recommended amount of sleep per day.
Sleep deprivation impacts one in three people, which is approximately 40 million people, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
So what is sleep deprivation? It is when one does not get enough sleep either for a singular night, or for an extended period of time. Sleep deprivation can lead to a loss of productivity, decaying physical health and injuries, among other things. Sleep deprivation can increase anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Therefore, getting a solid seven to nine hours of sleep a night is beneficial.
But if you are feeling sleep deprived, how can you fix it? A power nap can do the trick.
The term “power nap” was introduced by James Maas in his book “Miracle Sleep Cure: The Key to a Long Life of Peak Performance.” Power naps are typically 20 minutes long and can be beneficial as they end before you enter deep sleep, as noted by WebMD.
As noted by Health Ambition, a power nap can boost alertness, improve memory, repair damage from poor sleep habits from the previous night and combat sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
In the Bower’s Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being, the Relaxation Room is available to students. According to the College’s website, the Relaxation Room “has comfortable chairs and de-stress activities.”
The Sleep Pod is also available in the Relaxation Room and is available for 20-minute long reservations, allowing students to take a quick power nap. Students can reserve the Relaxation Room or Sleep Pod by speaking to a member of the Student Wellness Advocacy Group (SWAG) or calling The Well at 717-361-1501.
The hours for the Relaxation Room are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
According to Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation, people are asleep for 33 percent of their life. In order to be ready to live your life, ensure that you get those Zs, even if it’s just a mid-day power nap after not getting the necessary amount of sleep.
