It?s a fundamental requirement of living, as important to our health as food, water, and air, but even though it is a staple of both well-being and the ability to function at a peak level, sleep is not always considered to be priority, especially by busy students.

For the college crowd, sleep deprivation is extremely common. With many college students working, studying and attempting to enjoy the finer perks of higher learning, people between the ages of 18-25 frequently miss out on this basic necessity of life.

According to “Adolescent Sleep Needs and Patterns,” a research guide written by the National Sleep Foundation, people in this age group require 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep a night, but only 35 percent get more than 8 hours, and the group as a whole gets only an average of 7.1 hours.

This sleep shortage can have several negative effects. When deprived of the appropriate amount of sleep, people are less alert and attentive, irritability increases, concentration and judgment decline, the ability to do simple tasks suffers and overall productivity is hampered. Sleep deprivation also greatly affects the ability to drive. According to this report, more than one half of all fall-asleep crashes involve people less than 25 years of age.

These symptoms might explain why it?s sometimes difficult to remember if there are any assignments due in your next class, or why it seems like punching that guy on the scooter is a good idea. This could also be the reason that cutting classes begins to not only sound justified, but intelligent.

“I don?t get enough sleep because my work hours and studying keeps me up,” said Emily Phife, a junior English major. “I don?t really notice the effects, but I?m sure they?re there.”

For many students, a nap seems to be the right answer. In “The Nature of Sleep,” released earlier this year, the NSF claimed that there is “increasing evidence that a 15-20 minute nap can improve alertness, sharpen memory and generally reduce the symptoms of fatigue.”

So, not only does a nap in your car, or a few minutes on the grass in Joe Serna Plaza help to kill some time, it can also help you soak in the offerings of your next class.

“I sleep in my car all the time. It seems a little strange to sprawl out on the lawn for everyone, but the front seat of my car is my second bed,” said John Jeffers, a sophomore psychology major. “It does make me happier.”

Sleep routinea are specific to individuals but, according to the NSF, there are a few basic guidelines for everyone to follow: avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine for at least two hours before bedtime, exercise regularly and get up at the same time every day regardless of when you went to sleep.

Though some of these suggestions seem to go against the very nature of being a college student, maybe they could stop some from wanting to pummel the next person whose cell phone rings in class.

For more information on all aspects of sleep, check the National Sleep Foundation website, which is www.sleepfoundation.org.

Send comments, questions, or concerns to[email protected].

For questions or information regarding the site,please contact [email protected]