College students are constantly faced with common causes of sleep deprivation, such as stress and anxiety, all night study sessions, interrupted sleep and eating patterns and exposure to alcohol and drug abuse. Many students have accepted these causes as unavoidable and simply continue on with the same sleep patterns.

For Brett Kane, sophomore at the University of Oregon, sleep is an essential element to being successful in school. Kane gets an average of six hours of sleep per night, supplying him with enough energy to focus and be efficient in his classes during the day. A good night’s sleep varies for each person, but for college-aged students, sufficient sleep is generally considered to be eight or more hours per night.

However, according to the University Health Center at the University of Georgia, on average, most college students get six to seven hours of sleep per night due to an overwhelming amount of course work, extracurricular activities, jobs and parties.

“If I get less than four hours of sleep I find it a lot harder to stay focused, which makes it difficult to pay attention in class and do well on assignments,” Kane said. “It definitely makes it harder to stay awake during a lecture, especially if it’s a lecture where you’re not actively participating in it. Just sitting and listening to a professor talk for an hour and a half, I might unintentionally zone out, which would cause me to miss a lot of the information that the professor is giving us.”

According to the University of Georgia Health Center, a lack of sleep not only affects students’ daily performances, but it affects their overall well-being. Not getting the necessary eight hours of sleep per night could be the reason students are struggling in their classes or even why they might gain the notorious freshman 15. Sleep deprivation can cause educational issues such as missed classes, poor classroom participation and difficulty concentrating.

Health issues such as hallucination, declines in glucose metabolism and blood pressure, weight gain and an increased risk for mental issues can be an effect. However, according to the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, sleep patterns can always be changed. Regularity is essential for sufficient sleep and picking a specific time to always go to bed will help the body recognize when to rejuvenate itself.

Additionally, keeping your sleep area dark, quiet and separate from your study space will help the body distinguish between where it can rest and where it should be stimulated.

Finally, leave at least three to four hours before going to bed after consuming any type of stimulants, caffeine, alcohol or food.