Dear Answer Girl,
When I am at school, I usually sleep five to eight hours. But, it is good, solid sleep. I always feel tired, but make it through the day anyway.
When I am at home, I get 9 to 10 hours of sleep, and once I get into a schedule, I wake up three to four times a night. So, here’s the question: Is it better to have less undisturbed, deep, “quality” sleep or a larger quantity sleep that isn’t necessarily as restful?
-Sleepful in JCYou know, it’s really no surprise that you wake up three to four times a night when you are already sleeping 5 to 8 hours at school every day. Do you snooze right through your classes or is it a cumulative total from little naps during those 10 minute between-class breaks?
People don’t really need 18 hours of sleep every day, no matter when we get it. We are not cats, you know. I think you would sleep much better at night if you didn’t sleep all day, too. But that’s just my opinion.
As for the “question” you asked, it is better to have as much quality sleep as possible. If you have quality sleep between your three to four wake-ups, then great.
I’m not there to stick electrodes to your head to determine the quality of your sleep, so you’ll have to make that judgment yourself for now. But, coincidentally, I’m working on a comprehensive sleep quality study among college students who are likely to write questions to the Answer Girl or similar columnist. If you are interested in participating, you can just send $29.95 through PayPal to my e-mail address, along with a deposit of at least two more questions to be answered, and I’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible. Definitely within the next five months. Probably as soon as Sept. 3.
But if you can’t participate in my study, that’s OK too. To determine the quality of your sleep easily at home, just wait until you are asleep and then observe if and when your eyes move rapidly and when they are still (this is behind your eyelids, of course). Note these figures carefully for a few nights.
Then, add up all the numbers, divide by the sleep coefficient (in this instance it is pi multiplied by the day of the month of your birth), and if your total is greater than 147, you are clearly getting good, quality sleep.
Overall, though, I would really recommend for you not to sleep so much at school. Teachers notice things like drool puddles on desks under the motionless heads of sleepy students, and your grade may suffer as a result.
Got questions? Get answers! Only two weeks left to submit. Don’t delay. ETSUAnswer-Girl@hotmail.com.

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