Editor: Heather Romero Michel. Graphic Designer: Clara Crandall.
Do any of these problems sound familiar to you?
Sleeping less than 7 hours a night
Trouble falling asleep
Trouble waking up on time
Disturbed sleep
Inconsistent sleep schedule
Feeling tired all day long
Reliance on caffeine
Students widely accept troubles with sleep as part of the college lifestyle. Even right now, I’m living my “that college student” life, looking like this while I am writing:
Sleep quality and quantity significantly impact how our bodies and minds function throughout the day. Getting enough sleep helps us properly regulate our emotions and maintain good cognitive function. It also supports heart health, the immune system, weight maintenance, and proper insulin function (1).
Consequently, sleep deprivation and an irregular sleep schedule have negative impacts. Specifically for college students, research has found that sleep deprivation is associated with an increase in stress and anxiety, a decrease in GPA and likelihood of graduation, worse reaction time and coordination in sports, and poor social interactions (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). I guess there is such a thing as sleeper rizz.
But what does sleep have to do with technology? Studies show that increased screen time usage before bed increases people’s reports of sleep complaints (9, 10). Surprisingly, any interaction with technology can impact our sleep. While stressful interactions like getting into online altercations on social media have stronger negative impacts on sleep quality, peaceful interactions like playing calming music before bed also hinder sleep. With this information, technology can seem like the villain of sleep health.
How do we fix this? Everyone has likely heard: “Put your phone away before bed.” But turning off screens can be a challenge, especially if you need them to finish work, write that essay that’s due at 11:59 p.m., or catch up with friends like your favorite fictional television character.
While you may be afraid of technology becoming a dictator in your life, it’s also a symbol of creation, progress, reassurance, protection, and possibility. Perhaps it’s not technology that harms us but our lack of awareness of how to use it effectively. Technology is often viewed as the source of our sleep problems. But with more understanding of its roles in our lives and the tools it offers us, can it be the solution?
What type of problem sleeper do you relate to most below? [Articles coming soon!]
Wide Eyed In The Witching Hour: Trouble Falling Asleep
Dancing To The Beat Of Your Own Alarm: Trouble Waking Up
Sleeper? I hardly Know Her: Poor Sleep Quantity
This Is Fine: Poor Sleep Quality
Never Let Them Know Your Next Snooze: Inconsistent Sleep Schedule
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