Adults should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night. And experts warn that chronic sleep deprivation can have a massive impact on yourmentaland physical health. Yetaccordingto Harvard, more than half of college students are getting less than the bare minimum of shut-eye. Some are studying, some are working, and others are using the night hours toparty.
For one student, it was none of the above. Instead, their noisy roommates were to blame. The sleep-deprived womansharedhow she has to stick to a consistent bedtime because of her insomnia. But living in a college dorm made it near impossible. The woman’s roommates refused to shut up during shut-eye time. Eventually, the student decided to turn the tables and give them a taste of their own medicine in a sleepless but satisfying act of malicious compliance.Bored Panda reached out to seasoned California-based psychologistJuli Fragafor her advice on how to handle a situation like this.
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“The situation could have been handled in a better way”: an expert weighs in
Dr. Juli Fragais a psychologist with close to twenty years experience. During her career, she’s worked closely with students at both the University Of California Berkeley, as well as the University of California San Francisco. Bored Panda reached out to Fraga for her take on the matter. She told us she believes the situation could have been handled differently.
Fraga adds that students living together should discuss these things as early as possible. “Have a conversation from the get-go, and set boundaries that work for each person. Express your concerns kindly and come to an agreement that works for both of you,” advised the expert.
In addition to talking to your roommates, Fraga suggests students who suffer from sleepless nights seek professional help. “Insomnia can have many causes, sometimes it’s stress or anxiety, in which case it can be helpful to talk with a therapist or doctor,” she said.
Sleep deprivation can have serious repercussions
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)reportsthat around a third of adults have brief bouts of insomnia, while 15%-20% have short-term insomnia that lasts less than 3 months. For 10% of the population, it’s so bad that they struggle to sleep at least 3 times per week for at least 3 months, and are classified as having a chronic insomnia disorder.
The Academy adds that loss of productivity due to chronic insomnia costs the U.S. economy $63 billion annually. And the Centers For Disease Control has warned that sleep deprivation can have the same effect as being intoxicated. The AASM reports that driving while drowsy causes an average of 328,000 motor vehicle accidents every year, in America alone.
Apart from the obvious feelings of fatigue, not getting enough sleep can lead to irritability and a short temper; mood changes; trouble coping with stress; difficulty focusing, concentrating, and remembering things (crucially important for students); and what’s known as brain fog. “College students who prioritize sleep are likely to see an improvement in their academic performance,”notesHarvard Summer School.
Harvard’s Dr. Edward Pace-Schott is a sleep expert and says sleep plays an important part in helping us absorb information and remember things. “In any sort of experimental setting, study results show better performance if you learn material and then sleep on it, instead of remaining awake,” said Pace-Schott. “So there’s lots and lots of evidence now indicating that sleep promotes memory strengthening and memory consolidation.”
Experts say having a sleep routine is key to getting a good night’s rest. Pace-Schott suggests limiting caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, avoiding electronic screens within an hour of going to sleep, engaging in daily exercise, but avoiding intense exercise within two hours of bedtime, and being consistent about what time you wake up and go to sleep.
“I’m not a terribly nice person”: the student gave some more details in an update
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“Always follow the rules”: the student stood firm when some netizens questioned her actions
Some found the act of “malicious compliance with a dash of petty revenge” quite satisfying
“Noise doesn’t get taken seriously enough”: netizens shared their own similar stories
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