Go To Bed! How a Sleepy Summer Can Help Your Teen

According to the Centers for Disease Control, sleep deprivation is a national epidemic—with particularly troubling consequences for teens. According to studies published by the National Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation among teens is linked to:

• Injuries and Death: Young drivers age 25 or under cause more than one-half of fall-asleep crashes
• Poor Academic Performance: High school students who get poor grades sleep an average of 25 minutes less and go to bed 40 minutes later than students who get A's and B's
• Negative Moods: Students who went to sleep on the weekend two or more hours later than their typical weeknight bedtime reported feeling more depressed than those who did not stay up late on the weekends
• Stimulant Use: Regular sleep deprivation is associated with higher levels of stimulant use (including caffeine and nicotine), as well as alcohol and similar substances by teens

What's a parent to do? While most teens don't like to be told to go to bed—and are impossible to wake up in the morning—they tend to get more sleep once they're aware of their individual sleep "rhythms."

SUMMER SLEEP CHALLENGE

Set a goal for your teen of getting 8-1/2 to 9 hours of sleep each night this summer and leave it up to them to figure out how they'll get that much sleep while meeting their family chore and summer job obligations.

Promise a reward for keeping a sleep journal with a record of:

1. What time they went to bed and how long they slept
2. Where they fell asleep and what they were doing (Were they in bed with the light out or did they fall asleep on the sofa watching TV?)
3. How they felt when they woke up and how sleepy they were throughout the day

After even just a few weeks, your teen should become more aware of his or her own sleep patterns and the importance of getting a good night's sleep.

We Can Help

Access your VITAL WorkLife EAP resources by calling 800.383.1908 or through your VITAL WorkLife App. For additional articles on sleep, log onto your Member Website.