How Online Classes are Impacting My Sleep Schedule

By Amanda Kaplowitz

It’s currently 9:15 PM and I am writing this article lying in my bed, teeth brushed, lights off, and my eyes just barely staying open. I’m ready to go to bed. The exhaustion is real. Whether it be ‘Zoom fatigue’ from my three classes where I stared at my screen for an hour each, or the daylight saving’s slump, I am so tired.

But– correct me if I’m wrong– I feel like it’s not just me. It seems as though this year, amidst the transition to online classes and the general COVID-19 craziness, everyone is in a sleepy haze. 

Now that we no longer have to get up early and look presentable for in-person classes, staying in bed and wearing pajamas all day has become a norm. Having all of my classes online makes it tempting to take them from the comfort of my bed. But lying in bed and staring at the computer for countless hours is my everyday routine, and let me tell you– it’s not a good one. 

Pre-COVID, I would be productive and active. I’d get up and walk to my classes and then do work at a library or somewhere else on campus. I would be tired from my day and once I got back to my dorm, I would wind down and go to bed easily. But, now that I sleep in the same place where I work (my bed), it’s been harder for me to get a good night’s sleep. Intermingling my “home” area with my “work” area has proven to have some bad effects, and I’ve found that a clear distinction is essential. 

So, now I’m tired all the time. Yet when it comes time to go to bed, I am stressed and my mind is racing– most likely a result of too much blue light. Too much technology use can stimulate you before bed and suppress the body’s release of melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep, according to SleepFoundation.org. Feeling wide awake after going on your computer or phone for hours is not unusual.

There’s also the additional element of people choosing to sleep through their classes. Many professors record their lectures and post them on Canvas for asynchronous students or just for later review. Aside from a few possible missed participation points, online classes provide sleepy students with little incentive to go to class live if they’re recorded. This option was rare pre-COVID and just another way online classes have affected students’ sleeping habits. 

So, as I am lying in bed, struggling to stay awake, I can’t help but think about how I may not be so tired if my classes were in person. Coronavirus changed many aspects of my life and my sleep schedule is definitely one that’s getting hit hard.