A Michigan University study found that students' sleeping patterns were troublesome because of a lack of a consistent schedule. Almost a third took longer than a half an hour to fall asleep and a larger percentage were found to be waking more than once a night. Sleep patterns emerge naturally with a schedule but without a schedule it is difficult for the body to decide whether or not to go to sleep.
The circadian rhythm is the pattern that is created by your sleep patterns. The more variance in your schedule, the more the circadian rhythm is disrupted. Many students wake up later on weekends than weekdays and this disrupts their circadian rhythms. If the brain knows that at 10 p.m. you go to bed everyday, and at 6 a.m. you wake up every day, then it has a much easier job of guessing whether or not to initiate sleep at a given time.
Not being able to obtain restful sleep is detrimental to your overall health. Unfortunately it does not just mean that a person who does not receive good sleep will just be sleepy the next day. It can also mean an increased risk of diabetes due to insulin becoming less effective, as well as a poor immune system. Students can improve their chances of better sleep in many ways, including going to sleep earlier, avoiding alcohol and other drugs, and sleeping in complete darkness.
Even knowing how to obtain restful sleep may not help all students. In many instances students live in dorms with other residents in the same room. One roommate awake watching TV does not allow the other to sleep in complete darkness or silence. College is also a place known for alcohol and drug use and these may be found more readily on college campuses than other places. In this regard a student must exercise self-restraint in order to ensure his sleep schedule and circadian rhythms are not disrupted. Even taking some steps towards obtaining healthier sleep patterns may help in the long run.