<p>Since I began highschool, I've had very bad sleeping patterns. Most of the time, I would come home, nap, and go to bed late. The same remains true now, in my junior year of high school. Maybe it's my heavy course load and increased stress that I'm under this year that is making me feel like my memory is shot. I don't know though. Is this a result of bad sleeping habits? By my memory being shot, I mean there's sometimes where I can't recall simple things like someone's name or where I heard something, an assignment, etc. I guess I just feel like my heads in the clouds sometimes. It's making me a tad nervous because I don't know how to fix this. I used to have a strong memory, I could recall almost anything someone told me; today not as much. </p>
<p>I posted this in the parent's forum because I felt that adults may have better knowledge of this, whereas college students probably have the same sleep cycles as me.</p>
<p>Oh, I've also consumed a lot of coffee and sugar free red bull this past year; more so than ever before. I'm not sure if that factors in lol</p>
<p>no it's not extremely bad lol i still have a good memory like none of my test grades have suffered - im doing quite well in school - its just little things that i forget sometimes and it just gets annoying</p>
<p>but i just read that stress impairs memory so maybe thats it?</p>
<p>and my bad sleeping patterns are my fault lol its not like i cant sleep i just choose to nap after school which i have to stop soon</p>
<p>I read somewhere (here we go, my memory is shot, too :)) that caffeine affects the brain in the weird way. It's like you have the word on the tip of your tongue, but can't remember it until after your first morning cup of coffee. Happens to me all the time, but I only have one cup in the morning.</p>
<p>Yeah, napping in the afternoon and then staying up late. I don't think it's the best sleeping pattern. Lack of sleep can definitely affect your memory as well as your mood. I suggest cutting out that nap. Force yourself to stay awake after school, and then go to bed at a reasonable hour like 10 p.m. You'll probably have an easier time waking up in the morning, too.</p>
<p>Is it bad memory or are you really not in the moment? That is what is happening to me. I have a lot going on in my life besides my oldest heading to college in the fall and I find I can't remember things like you describe. I also find that I have a lot going on in my head so I think I don't remember details of a conversation as an example, but it may be because I am only half listening when I am having that conversation. Yes stress, which causes a busy brain, can cause poor memory. That could be what is going on with you, if your grades and tests are fine. Your memory is fine when you concentrate. ie, turn-off your brain to the noise and are in the moment. I hope that makes sense.</p>
<p>What time is "late" when you go to bed? And what time do you wake up? It will take a few days, but I think it's very important for you to get back on a normal sleep cycle. High school students need about nine hours of sleep every night. That's tough if you have to get up very early, but do your best to get close to 8 hours (10 PM - 6 AM?). Ongoing sleep deprivation, especially in a teenager, is really ruinous to your physical and mental health. You should also cut back on caffeine, which will also take some time to do. You'll need to go little by little, so it may take a week or two, but if you keep with it soon you should be sleeping normally, and you'll be able to stay awake and alert during the day without resorting to chemicals to help you along. If, after you've changed all of this, you're still having issues: see your doctor.</p>
<p>Fish oil. You need to reduce Omega 6's (which are in virtually all processed foods and cooking oils other than olive) and replace with Omega 3s. In the brain. It will take about two years to do that, though with a high enough dose of Omega 3s, and reduction in 6s, you might begin to notice changes in 3-4 weeks.</p>
<p>I did the exact same thing as you in high school. I blame the administrators who start high school at the ungodly hour of 7:30 am when science shows that teens are programmed to stay up late and sleep late. As a teen I couldn't fall asleep until 11 or 11:30, but when the alarm went off at six am I was dead. I'd come home at 2pm and take a nap.... then repeat the pattern. </p>
<p>I'd definitely say STOP the Red Bull. Caffeine stays in your system a lot longer than you think, making it harder for you to sleep and revving you up which is just increasing your stress hormones.</p>
<p>It might be easiest to TRY a new sleeping pattern starting on a Monday. Force yourself to stay awake in the afternoon (maybe go for a walk or a run?), then go to bed at 10 or so. After a few days the pattern may seem more natural.</p>
<p>My d went thru a phase in 7th grade where her grades were dropping and her teachers told me she wasn't paying attention. She swore to me she wasn't tired and it couldn't possibly be her late bedtime that was the problem. I finally convinced her to try going to bed 45 minutes earlier for 2 weeks and see if it helped; if it didn't then she could return to the old bedtime. Within a week she reported, "Wow, I didn't think I was tired but I guess I really was." Now she's in 10th grade and still goes to bed at 10pm, because she knows she needs the sleep.</p>
<p>PS. If it makes you feel any better, when you get to college staying up late and napping in the afternoon will be most people's normal pattern of sleep.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your replies. They helped a lot. Slowly but surely Im gonna stop with the caffeine and other energy drinks. Im also going to take the suggestion of going to bed earlier; hopefully it will help.</p>
<p>And if some thoughts keep eating you alive and you can't fall asleep because of that, I recommend keeping a notepad on your nightstand so you can write down the thoughts and worries as your next day's to-do list. Trust me, you'll fall asleep faster.</p>