Sleep Deprivation In Students

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It is no coincidence that a large number of people first develop sleeping problems at University. I regularly speak with people who tell me that they slept well until the time they flew the nest and went to stay in halls of residence or a shared house. University presents the perfect breeding ground for what I call "Student Sleep Deprivation". 

Student Sleep Lifestyle Change 

The reason for this invasion of bad sleep is a dramatic lifestyle change. Before most students set off to university they are accustomed to a fairly regular sleeping pattern, and many are still under the watchful eye of their parents ensuring they are studying hard, not drinking or smoking and getting enough rest.  

The excitement of freedom, a cheap student bar and varying lecture times results in late nights and late mornings. Sleeping patterns become irregular. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if university lasted 6 months or even 1 year, but 3 years on the trot – even more if you study medicine – is extremely detrimental to the circadian rhythms of the body. 

Sleep Deprivation In Students

Napping, Late Mornings and Smoking Marijuana 

The worse sleep becomes the more students tend to sleep late or nap once or twice a day to compensate for lost sleep. Many students start smoking marijuana when they go to university and end up using the drug as a sleep aid which leads down the road of habitual addiction – not dissimilar to taking sleeping pills. This only makes the problem worse, and, by the time many leave university their sleeping patterns are so intensively interfered with that the body has trouble adjusting to a 9-5 work routine. 

Student Sleep Affected By Pressure, Stress and Anxiety 

Steering clear of the bar and going to bed early doesn’t mean you will escape the perils of student sleep deprivation. The pressures of exams and deadlines increase exponentially at university and not every personality is equipped to handle such demands. Many lose sleep through worry, anxiety and stress. This state becomes perpetual and the brain becomes conditioned to associate going to bed with a state of “over thinking” and worry. Over a period of time this association becomes permanent and quality sleep becomes harder to achieve.  

The Sleep Deprivation Solution

If you are experiencing student sleep deprivation which is affecting your academic performance, or you have struggled with getting a good night’s sleep since leaving university, then let my Six Steps to Sleep Now help you back to deep, restful sleep. Click here to read more about the book. 

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