Mistress of Issues

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Dear Mistress of Issues,
Lately I’ve had to stay up really late with homework, projects, and social commitments. I just can’t get enough sleep. Some people I know suggested that I start drinking coffee to stay away, but that didn’t work. So instead I’ve had to turn to caffeine pills to stay awake. I figured that it’s the same as drinking coffee or soda, and I really need to stay awake. Do you think this is a problem?
~Never asleep
Dear Never asleep,
Sleep may seem like a luxury that you can’t afford, but it’s essential to your health and well-being. Lack of sleep can make you more susceptible to flu and other illness and can impair your mental state. Caffeine is not a substitute for sleep.
Just because you have found a way to stay awake does not mean that you have found a replacement for sleep. Even if you don’t feel tired doesn’t mean that you aren’t experiencing the effects of lack of sleep.
Taking caffeine pills is not the same as drinking a caffeinated beverage. Any time that you take any type of over the counter pill, supplement, or medication you should check with a health professional. Some of these things are not regulated by any type of governing body and can have an interaction with something else you may already be taking. Additionally, these pills may have ingredients that you are not aware of that could be potentially harmful.
I urge you to consult Health Services or your primary care physician about your use of caffeine pills; you may be putting yourself at unnecessary risk for a few extra hours of being awake. The quality of your work and ability to reason are compromised after extended periods without sleep. Therefore, you won’t be able to retain as much information, write as good a paper, or make a fully informed decision when you lack sleep.
If you feel that you can’t get eight hours of sleep, try taking naps when you can to get some shut eye in. A short nap combined with 5-6 hours of sleep will have you in much better shape. If you are having trouble sleeping you may be experiencing insomnia and should seek the help of a medical professional who can assess your individual situation.
Think about whether or not all of your commitments are worth it to you. You need to be able to balance your academics and your other social activities. The reason you are here is to get an education, with a secondary emphasis on your social life. Decide which things you absolutely love and which things you can cut back on. You may not realize that you are wasting time with something like watching TV or playing games online.
Everyone deserves some time to relax and de-stress, and what you are primarily lacking is balance between all the different aspects of your life. Start with the most important things, your health (both physical and mental), your academics and so forth. Counseling and Student Development can also assist you with this. Lack of sleep will eventually catch up with you.

Have a question? Email the Mistress at MistressOfIssues@gmail.com You can also Instant Message a question to the screenname MistressOfIssues on AOL Instant Messenger. Names have been changed to protect privacy. This column is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to replace professional advice.