It is no question that one of the most important activities in life is sleep. No matter what, sleep will always be a necessity for human life. Despite it being a necessity, most people rather enjoy a good night’s sleep. Sleep is also one of the main actions that people complain about not getting enough of during a normal day.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens used to need 8-9 hours of sleep but now need 8-10 hours. Considering the school schedule that students have they do not get the amount of sleep recommended. 

However, with the recent issue of coronavirus rising and schools closing having to transition to online learning causing sleep patterns to change. Most people have more time on their hands than ever, and with more time comes more sleep. At least, that is what most would assume, but interestingly enough some people are actually getting less sleep than ever during this time.

“Things haven’t really changed for me school-wise since online learning has not been affected by the virus, but because my dad is now home full-time, he’s been making me wake up way earlier than I am used too,” online student Taylor Greco said. 

Other students have said “my sleep schedule has not changed at all, I usually go to bed around the same time and wake up maybe thirty minutes later than I would on a normal school day,” senior Taia Williams said. 

After surveying a few different teens who would otherwise be in school if not for this national pandemic, the averages came back showing that most teens’ sleep schedules have been heavily impacted. Though, while the normal sleep schedule may have knocked away from the norm, most teens are still getting far more sleep than usual. Going to bed late and waking up even later appears to be the new normal for most between ages 13-18.

Some adults see this as a negative, but others claim this might just be the sleep that many teenagers have been missing out on for months. On an average school day, students rarely get the recommended amount of sleep—especially as it is a known fact that teenagers need more sleep than the average adult.

Teenagers’ natural body clocks are skewed later than adults or children, most have trouble falling asleep any earlier than 11 o’clock. With high school starting early in the morning and this natural late night streak that teens’ have, it is apparent just why many students cannot seem to get the sleep they require.

Therefore, while some may still find it negative that teens’ are now waking up so late, it is actually teenagers simply taking much-needed sleep.