College and Sleep...how can it be done?

One common trait among students on campus that can be seen is a strong lack of sleep. Many students are overwhelmed with classes, trying to balance a social life, and homework.While all this seems normal there is one thing all of them are compensating, thats sleep.

The most important part of our sleep cycle is REM sleep. REM sleep is a stage of sleep during which the brain is the most active and when we are most likely to dream. This part is important because it allows our bodies to relax and become more or less paralyzed. It is even considered an essential part of staying healthy. One test performed on rats showed that when they were deprived from REM sleep they soon died.

One reason college students are not getting enough of this deep sleep is from the use of cell phones, laptops, and ipods. These distractions keep them from entering REM and they are only reaching stages one through four of their sleep cycles.So an important factor to remmeber when in college is that even though it may be hard to come by, it is important to allow yourself to reach stage five sleep on as many occasions as you can. Even if it has to happen during lectures for a few of those week night party animals out there.