Most teens don’t get enough sleep, usually because their schedules are overloaded or they spend too much time texting or chatting with friends until late.
Over time, nights of missed sleep can build into a sleep deficit. Teens with a sleep deficit can’t concentrate, study, or work effectively. They also can have emotional problems, like depression. Research shows that teens need about 9 hours of sleep a night. So, a teen who needs to wake up for school at 6 a.m. would have to go to bed at 9 p.m. to reach the 9-hour mark. Studies have found that many teens have trouble falling asleep that early, though. It’s not because they don’t want to sleep. It’s because their brains naturally work on later schedules and aren’t ready for bed. Treatment for sleep problems can vary. Some can be treated with medicines, while others can be helped with special techniques like light therapy or other practices that can help reset a person’s body clock.