As a teenager, you probably don't know what all the fuss is about in regards to getting a good night's sleep. There is so much going on in your life -- so much stress and pressure to be a good student, athlete and friend, that there's barely time in the night (or day!) for sleeping. If you are like most teens, you probably don't even feel tired when your parents suggest that you go to bed. The end of the day for you seems to be a beginning, where you can chat online, catch up with friends over the phone and be social -- an important part of your life! When you do hit the pillow and drift off to the Land of Nod, you probably find that the morning comes all too quickly, and that if you had the day to yourself, a couple more hours of Zzz's would be preferred.

 

The tips and information on the following pages are to help you learn more about your relationship with sleep so that you can identify any potential or current sleep problems and begin to work towards healthier sleep patterns that benefit all those important aspects in your life that require you to perform at your optimum.  

Sleep IQ Test

How much do you know about sleep? Take this National Sleep Foundation quiz to see what you know about what happens during sleep. You may begin to see why you need more sleep than you're getting. (It's a good idea for the rest of your family to take the test, too.)

 

1. During sleep, your brain rests. (T or F)

2. You can learn to function normally with two or three hours less sleep than your body needs per night. (T or F)

3. Teens go to sleep and wake later because they're lazy. (T or F)

4. Although you may not get enough sleep during the week, you can catch up on your sleep on weekends and still have healthy sleep habits. (T or F)

5. Boredom makes you feel sleepy, even if you have had enough sleep. (T or F)

6. Resting in bed with your eyes closed cannot satisfy your body's need for sleep. (T or F)

7. Snoring is not harmful as long as it does not disturb others or wake you up. (T or F)

8. Most people do not know when they're sleepy. (T or F)

9. Turning up the radio, opening the window, or turning on the air conditioner will help you stay awake while driving. (T or F)

10. Sleep disorders are mainly due to worry or psychological problems. (T or F)

11. Everyone dreams every night. (T or F)

12. Driving after being awake for 18 hours puts you at the same level for a crash as someone who is legally drunk. (T or F)

Answers: 1. F, 2. F, 3. F, 4. F, 5. F, 6. T, 7. F, 8. T, 9. F, 10. F, 11. T, 12. T