College has brought a wave of exciting opportunities to meet new people and experience new things. All this comes in the form of school clubs, classes, and social events that are regularly held on campus or around the Columbus area. With all these classes and events filling up our schedules, time management has become a more important skill than ever before. Managing our schedules can lead us to sacrifice free time, or even worse, our hours of sleep.
As many people know, a lack of sleep can lead to what is called “sleep deprivation.” This is a term that you’ve probably heard a lot from your overworked friends, but what does it really mean? Sleep deprivation is when someone gets an insufficient amount of sleep which can lead to symptoms of fatigue, moodiness, difficulty learning, depression, and of course, a lot of yawning.
To get a feel of how students are managing their schedules and sleep patterns, I ventured across campus to interview three students who could provide some insight. These interviews were conducted in three campus hangouts to get a variety of experiences. My first destination was the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), where I had the pleasure of meeting a senior named Jeron Gaskins. He started off by giving insight into how late he goes to bed and why his habits are this way.
“I go to bed pretty late. 1 a.m.-ish is when I try to cut everything off,” Gaskins said. “This is partly because of class schedule, and I’m also highly involved on campus, so I’m always doing something.”
A busy schedule like Gaskins’s can easily eat away at the amount of time we have each day. With so much going on, people can easily lose their free time to other things. The topic of conversation soon switched to the tendency of naps.
“Last semester, I had a 9 a.m. and then my next class was at 1 p.m. So I would always get out of my 9 a.m. at 10 or 11, and then I took a nap until my 1 p.m.”
Taking naps in between classes is definitely a good strategy to fight off the effects of sleep deprivation. Failure to do so when you need it most can lead to dozing off in class. Next, my investigation led me to the tranquil atmosphere of the Capital fountains, where I met a freshman named Jenna Hopkins, who shared her own experiences on managing sleep and work.
“Part of it comes from having a roommate, and having to base my sleep around that,” said Hopkins. “If she’s working, then I don’t want to turn off the light. There [are] also times when I don’t plan out when I’m going to do my homework, so then I have to be up late.”
The above quote highlights many things that college students have had to juggle at some point or another; being considerate of our roommate’s needs and also finding time to get work done before the next class. With this information, I arrived at my journey’s end: Blackmore Library. It was within these silent confines that I met Travis Jones, a junior.
“Normally I’ll drink some caffeine around 2 p.m. which kind of keeps me up, and then when I get home I’m still a little wired. So it’s hard to wind down,” said Jones. “I’ll get home and work on assignments, and then I’m staring at a computer screen, or scrolling through my phone. All those factors affect my sleep.”
Now that we’re adults, it is expected that we manage our work and sleep hours. When it comes to various school clubs and events, it can be easy to bite off more than you can chew. Pick and choose what events you want to attend, and allow yourself some relaxation time. Of course, too much relaxation can lead to procrastination in regards to homework, so try to find a balance and always get good amounts of sleep in. Experiment with your daily schedule and find what best suits you.
