Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a constant struggle for high schoolers. People automatically jump to eating smart and exercise to curb bad habits, but sleep is almost always put on the back burner. Between sports, homework, theatre and a job, there isn’t much time left to wind down and get some rest.

The recommended amount of sleep for teenagers is between eight to ten hours, but that is seldom achieved. The National Sleep Foundation found that only 15% of high schoolers reach the eight hour mark. One of the biggest problems revolves around technology.

It is becoming a societal norm to use phones to relax and reconnect. Even if you get into bed at a decent time, the urge to scroll through Twitter or any other social media app usually overtakes exhaustion. It could be worth it to try falling asleep without the help of electronics. Instead of setting five alarms to wake up, you could get a good night’s sleep and wake up refreshed the first time around.

With eight hours of sleep under your belt, performance in school and sports will improve. The next time a lecture comes up in class, you could be poised and ready to take notes instead of struggling to keep your eyes open. Coaches will notice the difference between someone who has the energy to go the extra mile and the player who is struggling to make the finish line. So, get some sleep and set yourself up for success.

Falling asleep in class should be the least of your worries when it comes to sleep deprivation. According to healthline.com, losing out on sleep can result in memory issues, mood changes, weight gain, heart disease and an increased risk of accidents. Driving drowsy is just as bad as driving under the influence, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that it is responsible for 100,000 auto crashes and 1,550 crash-related deaths.

Sleep may seem like something you can sacrifice, but it should be made a priority. It could be the difference between passing and failing a class, or life and death on the road. Cut out time in your busy schedule for sleep, and you’ll be thanking yourself later.