Magnet Sleep Habits
by Anagha Bhuvanagiri for Silver Quest 2022-23
As a Blair Magnet student, it may feel like the norm to get pathetic hours of sleep every night. After all, feeling like a zombie after staying up until 2:00AM finishing Mr. Rose’s calculus homework is a shared experience among many. However, it’s important to know that this is not the healthiest lifestyle to maintain as a high schooler.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers aged 14-17 years old should aim to get 8-10 hours of sleep per night for optimal health and well-being. Getting the recommended amount of sleep can significantly improve mood, reduce stress, and boost the immune system, leading to physically healthier lifestyles. Furthermore, during sleep, the brain consolidates memories and processes information, leading to better cognitive function and learning. Who knew that getting more sleep could actually make you smarter…
The average teen in America gets 7 hours of sleep. That’s lower than the recommended amount — and it gets worse for Magnet students. According to a survey, the average student in the Blair Magnet program sleep a measly average of 6.2 hours on weekdays. Thankfully, that number goes up to 9.2 on the weekends. And surprisingly, there is no correlation between a student’s grade and the amount of sleep they get. Within the Magnet, freshmen tend to get more sleep than sophomores, and sophomores tend to get more sleep than juniors. Upperclassmen, do better!
Moreover, a whopping 37% of upperclassmen feel that they get less sleep than they did in their freshman year. This can be attributed to more heavy and difficult workloads in higher-level classes. However, a pleasant 42% of these upperclassmen get the same amount of sleep, and 21% even get more sleep than their freshman selves! Props to you guys!
If you're looking to excel academically, don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. It turns out that sleep deprivation can actually wreak havoc on your ability to concentrate, remember, and think creatively. It’s like trying to run a marathon without shoes— sure, you might make it to the finish line, but you’ll feel miserable the whole way there. And falling asleep in class isn’t that fun when you go home and realize you have a quiz next class on all the information you slept through! Around 57% of Magnet students easily fall asleep in various classes. That 57% likely spend longer time studying for assessments at home when they could be using that time for more sleep! Trust me, your brain will thank you for a good night’s rest, and your grades will too.
On average, the Blair Magnet student has 2.3 hours of homework on school nights, and 61% of magnet students’ amount of sleep is dependent on this homework load. So, how do Blair Magnet students deal with tired days? “I try to go to bed at the same time everyday… It creates a routine,” says Senior Alexa Avila. “As a runner, or any athlete in general, it's important to get at least 8 hours of sleep or more a night to be able to perform your best and allow your muscles to recover and grow.” She does confess though that she gives herself one night a month to stay up late and study for a big exam.