College Students: More Sleep = More Sex

The following text is derived in part from My Success Journal, a new book by Ron A. Rhoades, JD, CFP(r).  This workbook contains 12 weeks of exercises designed to propel college students to success ... in college, in business, and in life.  Available at Amazon.com.  (Students of Ron Rhoades receive this workbook for free.)

What Can Sleep Do for You in College?

With adequate sleep, you will feel energized and focused.  Your grades will improve.  You will be more vibrant and alive.  You'll smile more.  More people will say about you, "Wow, I'd really like to get to know that person."  You'll secure more dates!

That's right ... as counter-intuitive as it sounds:  More Sleep = More Sex!

The Dire Consequences of Insufficient Sleep

Sleep is an important key to health, wellness, cell growth, memory formation, mental agility, physical performance, and peace of mind.  You name it and sleep can improve it. Insufficient sleep can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences for themselves and others around them. For example, an estimated 20% of vehicle crashes are linked to drowsy driving.

Short sleep duration is associated with various adverse health effects (e.g., cardiovascular disease or obesity), decreased workplace and public safety, and impaired job performance.  Being drowsy during a job interview will usually result in a short interview.  And, of course, appearing drowsy during a conference with a prospective client, or at a networking event, can easily convey the wrong impression concerning you and your abilities.

How Much Sleep Does a College Student Need?

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that healthy adults sleep 7–9 hours per day. For college students the recommended amount of sleep is 9 hours 15 minutes for the average college student, to be fully engaged in all of your classes, and for maximum learning.  (Most college students possess overconfidence in their abilities, and hence substantially underestimate how much sleep they require.)

Yet, 30% of civilian employed U.S. adults (approximately 40.6 million workers) reported an average sleep duration of less than or equal to only 6 hours per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Advice from Your Fellow Students

Don’t believe me?  Here’s some advice from your fellow students about getting enough sleep:

• “While it may sound self-explanatory, in our freshman year it took some of us some time to realize that he or she needed to get a good night’s sleep.  Once one’s sleep each night increased, so did one’s GPA.”
• “Regardless of how much you might personally need, you will have a hard time concentrating in class – and learning – if you are drowsy.  Also, your ability to retain facts in memory is greatly enhanced when you get enough sleep.”
• “If you get plenty of rest, you will have more energy to make it to every class on time, and to do all of the readings and assignments.”

In Conclusion

To manage all your time better, get more sleep.  More sleep will also lead to you being nicer, more attractive, and generally more awesome.

And yes, more sleep can even lead to greater socialization ... even more sex!