We now understand that from the moment we’re born, sleep is essential—and not just to make sure we’re happy and energized. It’s even more important for you whose brains and bodies are rapidly growing and developing.
For this reason, the amount of sleep you need changes as you get older. Here, find out why getting enough sleep is so critical for you, plus how much you need during this phase of life, as a teenager.
When teens don’t get enough sleep, your health and well-being suffer. Indeed, adequate sleep is important to ensure that you reach your developmental milestones.
On the flip side, lack of sleep can cause you to struggle with basic skills. Lack of sleep affects hand-eye coordination, small and large motor skills, memory, concentration, and behavior.
Sleep also impacts your physical and mental health. “Lack of sleep has been linked to slower metabolism, higher risk for infection and illness, and growth issues, as well as difficulty regulating emotions and staying focused.
Even though sleep needs will change as your child grows, the reasons it is critical remain the same, Dr. Okorie notes. “Sleep is very important at all ages of childhood as sleep is important for growth, learning, development, and overall quality of life.
While it’s rarer than the alternative, it’s possible for you to oversleep. Teens who get too much sleep may show signs of this such as having trouble falling asleep at night, waking really early in the morning (before 6 a.m.), and waking frequently throughout the night when they didn’t previously.
The much more common scenario is not getting enough sleep. Poor attention, irritability, and increased emotionality can be seen in teens who are not getting adequate sleep.”
If they are consistently failing to sleep enough, it may be a sign of a more serious sleep problem.
Many teenagers are not getting the sleep they need due to late-night activities and increased social commitments as well as technology. It is important to remember that you still need adequate sleep for healthy brain development.
If your overscheduled lives or phones are impacting your sleep, it’s going to show up in your behavior.
“Adolescents may show increased sleepiness during the day and may find it hard to focus on schoolwork or activities. You may also seem to lose interest in previously enjoyable activities and may show signs of increased anxiety or low mood. The brain continues to grow and mature well into the 20s, so it’s important to make sure that even as a teenager, you get enough sleep.
