It’s no secret that many teens don’t often get enough sleep at night. The recommended amount is eight to 10 hours per night, but according to a study reported by CNN, a majority of teens are only logging six to seven. Some sources attribute this to an increase in distractions from technology, including social media and video games. However, for many students, a major factor is the stress of having multiple responsibilities that put high demand on their time outside of school.

“I don’t sleep enough because we don’t get enough time to finish our school work in class,” junior Alexie Flaminio said. “I have other priorities outside of school, including athletics, and then have to come home to four hours of homework.”

However, studies have shown that there are some effective strategies to improve the quality of a person’s sleep even if their quantity is insufficient. In a study conducted by the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, participants who practiced 20 minutes of mindfulness meditation everyday experienced fewer disturbances during sleeping. Stress-reduction strategies like this may help people fall asleep quicker and sleep more soundly throughout the night.

For more information about how to optimize your sleeping habits, click here.

By Rachel Reardon