.: The Red Brick – Dubai College's Student Newspaper :.

I think it’s safe to say that for many of us the most dreaded element of school life is heaving ourselves out of bed in the morning and peeling our drowsy, half-conscious minds away from our ever so comfortable array of alluring pillows and duvets and our fanciful dreams. And while for the lucky few this sluggish state quickly scatters, many of us waste potential and head into the new day feeling the dismal effects of sleep deprivation.
While sleeping, brain activity and body functions vital to our wellbeing take place. Without these functions, you may feel side effects such as hopelessness about your future, feeling unnecessarily worried and irritable and performing poorly in everything from school work to sports and social surroundings. You may begin to feel unexplainably sad and lose interest in your friends.
Studies show that within our weekly routines, a mere 15% of teenagers get the recommended nine and a quarter hours of sleep per night. Our typical teenage routine of staying up as late as possible and sleeping in as long as we like on the weekends affects our quality of sleep more than you may think. And while it is a biological nature for teenagers to stay up later than other age groups, sleep deprivation leads to a number of emotional, physical and intellectual downfalls.
Amongst the most evident and immediate effects of getting to bed too late is the restricted ability to fully engage in day to day life. This includes difficulties in paying attention in class, listening to those around you, absorbing information and impaired social capabilities with family and friends. Your brain is presented with an inability to absorb information and remember important facts such as names, deadlines, homework, numbers and other important information which may help you in the future. While these drawbacks highlight the worst of your mental abilities, they are not the only consequences which will aid you in your journey to being out a favor within society.
Outbursts of anger and heightened irritability as a result of tiredness cause you to be impatient with your family, friends and teachers, making yourself a nuisance to be around. Not only is your personality and interaction with others altered, but you will personally begin to feel down, depressed, worthless and self-conscious over unnecessary anxieties and stresses you may not normally be prone to.
Stresses triggered by more physical effects of sleep deficiency will also affect you and your wellbeing. When you are tired your body tries to get energy from other sources i.e. food. This causes your body to crave a surplus of unhealthy, calorie-filled foods which will lead to a cycle of unnecessary weight gain. Your confidence will not only be damaged by this gain in weight but also by your new found susceptibility to skin problems including increased acne and pimples. Sleepiness will also increase your dependence on caffeine and possibly nicotine too. Your immune system is weakened, making you more likely to miss out on the fun as you will probably be one of the ones sitting at home with fresh meat flu.

However, despite frequently waking up wishing we had gone to bead earlier the night before, for whatever reason we tend to find ourselves in this situation more than we hope for. In order to combat this undesirable state, there are a number of steps that need to be followed:
1. Make sleep a priority. In order to break the vicious cycle of sleep deprivation affecting your mood, and depressed mood leading to sleep deprivation, set a bed time which is nine and a half hours before you have to wake up and stick to it. Try to stick to this bedtime as close as possible on weekends too.
2. Go for relaxing activities such as reading or taking a warm shower or bath an hour before bed instead of turning on the TV or computer. Doing these on a daily routine will help to signal your body when it is time sleep,
3. Avoid coffee, chocolate, soda, and foods high in sugar before bed
4. Take naps before anticipated late nights
5. If you are stressing about things you have to do, make a mental or physical to do list and plan when you’ll get around to doing these tasks to put your mind at ease
6. Make your room serene and relaxing – eye shades, darkness, mood lights, sound tracks, whatever does it for you!
So, next time you’re struggling to peel yourself away from the appealing clasp of your covers, re-examine your sleep schedule and try these tips out for a more active and alert attitude!

Winter is finally near! And although for many people this means wrapping up in whatever’s warmest, for us lucky Dubai dwellers, it means it’s time to finally feel the fresh air! But the question remains: How do we make the most of our amazing winter weather?

While a lot of us Dubai College students are in the fortunate position to be able to splurge on fantastic activities such as the December Dubai Rugby Sevens, the latest concerts and maybe even an overseas school trip, it is also good to think about those less fortunate than ourselves. With the charitable season of Eid heading our way, there couldn’t be a better time to pay respects by donating a part of our wealth to charity. We can do this by taking full advantage of Dubai’s good weather without spending a dime! And here’s how:
Hit the Beach! Dubai is a coastal city, meaning that you will never be far from the white sandy beaches there are to offer.The extremely popular Jumeirah Beach is always a favourite, but there are also the public beaches at Al Mamzar and the Kite Beach running along Umm Suqeim. If you’re looking for a slightly more posh day out, JBR has many lively cafés and restaurants on The Walk filled with chatter and a lively atmosphere.
Go camping! Although this depends greatly on parental coordination, lighting a bonfire in the desert night sky creates a memory that will never be forgotten. Jokes can be shared and it is guaranteed that a good story or two will always come out of your bonding experience.
Host a gathering! Rather than waiting around for something to happen, take the initiative and invite a few close friends over! This is very rewarding once you see the fun that you can all have by simply enjoying your nearest pool together, having a barbeque or even hanging around in the compound like the good old days.
Dubai is not all about being glamourous, and once you learn to appreciate its natural charm, you’ll never look back! And what’s more, you can use your spare cash to help the world – one dirham at a time! You may have a favourite charity you like to support, or if not, head over to your nearest charity box at the mall.