School going children getting up early and sleeping late at nights during the weekdays and then getting up late at the end of the week, is a regular feature world over. But, here is a caution, as such children are more likely to perform poorly in the classroom.
A recent study says that getting up late on weekends upsets the body clock, which is otherwise used to waking up early on school days. This dissimilarity in the schedule disturbs the mental set-up.
Their internal body clock expects something else as per their routine schedule, but during weekends it is expected to shift to a new routine that may affect their ability to be awake early for school once the new week begins and they revert back to their old routine.
Stephanie J. Crowley of Brown University in East Providence, Rhode Island, conducted the study based on the fact that high school students’ sleep is usually restricted during the school week that they compensate by late and long sleep on weekends. The study examined the circadian phase, sleep quality and morning awareness before and after replicating the weekend sleep pattern.
Crowley explains that the resetting can affect the brain’s cue to be awake on Monday morning for school, affecting the performance in school at the beginning of the week, which can very nearly reduce their concentration levels.
To avoid this, the teenagers must make sure get the required amount of sleep each night, which can span from nine or more hours to achieve excellent health and optimal performance. And they should continue their routine into the weekends also and make sure that their bedroom is a quiet, dark and soothing place.
Getting up at the same time every morning and going to bed at the same time makes sure that the body clock ticks at the right time. Do not create inconvenience for your body clock, it will keep you fit if it is allowed to follow its routine.
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Via: Science Daily