Coming to college at first is already a drastic change for us. For me personally, college sleep is a complete joke. Before coming to college, I had a perfect scenario of being a well-organized person who had a perfect schedule. I truly believed I would get a full eight hours of sleep every night. But once college started for real, sleep became something I had to sacrifice instead of something I could rely on. Sleep feels like an option more than a necessity in college. 

Sleep is such a basic and simple need, yet somehow most of the college kids are sleep-deprived. There is always something due before midnight, a quiz, an assignment to finish, or a shift at work. Even when I try to go to bed early, I end up scrolling through my phone until it’s too late and I need to wake up in two hours or so. Some days I tell myself, “I will sleep better tomorrow,” but tomorrow never comes. There is always something else coming up. 

Research actually shows that this is not just a personal problem; it’s very common among college students. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a large number of college students report feeling tired or not getting enough sleep on most days. This is linked to so many mental health problems in college students, including the risk of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. The research also says that for every additional night of insufficient sleep, the risk of mental health issues increases by over 20%.

We push ourselves so much without realizing how important sleep really is. Instead, we treat it like laziness and keep going. Running on coffee and surviving on three or four hours of sleep almost feels like a flex now. Being tired in college has become so normal that no one really questions it anymore. Some nights, I just lie in bed thinking about everything- deadlines, grades and my future. I feel like I can’t relax until I am done with the whole week’s to-do list. Because of this, sleep starts to feel like a reward instead of a basic need, something you earn after finishing everything else.

I’m starting to realize that college is not just about learning or passing the exams. It’s also about learning how to take care of yourself. Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. Maybe the real challenge of college life isn’t just time management, but rest is part of success, not the opposite. Taking care of your body and mind is just as important as completing assignments or getting good grades. 

We need to find a balance between sleep and education. Without enough rest, it becomes harder to focus, especially during exams or important classes that require full attention. While college schedules can be unpredictable, making small changes like limiting screen time or planning work early without pressuring ourselves. We should always know that sleep is essential for both academic success and personal well-being.  

College is not always about working harder. It’s about working smarter and taking care of yourself. Sleep is not something we can keep ignoring. It is a basic human need, and learning to respect it might be one of the most important lessons college has to offer. 

Edited by Bidhya Sapkota and  Arohi Rai