Teenagers are already biologically predisposed to sleep later. During puberty, their circadian rhythms – the internal clocks which regulate sleep and wake cycles – naturally shift later. Daylight Saving Time makes this worse by advancing the clock abruptly, creating a jet lag-like effect. The loss of that hour can have a negative impact on their sleep cycle.
It is well documented that sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on teenagers. It can lead to:
Difficulty learning and concentrating: Sleep is vital for memory consolidation and cognitive functions. Teens who lack sleep may find it difficult to concentrate in class, retain knowledge, or perform well on academic tests. Teenagers who are constantly tired may find it hard to enjoy the activities they usually do, resulting in a lack of motivation.
Increased mood swings and irritability: Lack of sleep can increase emotional reactivity and lead to an increased level of irritability. It may also cause anxiety and depression. It can cause tension in relationships with friends and family.
Increased accident risk: Drowsiness reduces the ability to react and make decisions, which increases the risk of auto accidents and other injuries.
Daylight Saving Time has a greater impact on teens who attend therapeutic schools, such as Logos School, located in St. Louis Missouri, close to St. Charles Missouri and the Illinois border. Sleep disruptions can worsen students’ pre-existing behavioral and emotional issues. Sleep hygiene is important to all students, especially those in a therapeutic school setting. Logos offers strategies to help their students succeed during this time.
Some of these strategies include:
Minimize the impact of the change and adjust schedules gradually.
Prioritizing sleep hygiene and stress its importance as top priority.
Educating teens, families and friends: By providing information on the importance of sleeping and the effects of Daylight-Saving Time, teens and their family members can take proactive measures to manage the transition.
Offering resources and support: Therapeutic settings can provide individual and group counseling for students to address sleep-related issues and develop coping mechanisms.
Daylight Saving Time is a challenge for teenagers. Understanding how this time change will affect their sleep patterns, performance in school, and emotional health is important. Parents, educators and therapeutic programs, such as those at Logos, can help teens navigate the sleepy season by implementing proactive strategies. This will ensure that they get the rest and relaxation they need to thrive. By recognizing the importance of sleep, and by providing the support teens need to cope with Daylight Saving Time challenges and maintain their health and wellbeing, they can be empowered. Spring forward does not have to be a time of falling behind.
Logos School provides a lifeline to students through a transformative, personalized therapeutic and academic program, fostering a path to hope and success. We welcome students through open enrollment, whether privately or through their home school district. Our structured, yet flexible environment fosters our students’ needs with compassion and acceptance and cultivates a supportive peer community, empowering students toward graduation or mainstreaming success.