Fun fact: The governments in Iran, Afghanistan and Pinochet-era Chile have used sleep deprivation as a torture device. Now that’s a sidebar you won’t read in the DM pamphlets.
This weekend, when your feet are dragging on the floor, your brain is numb, and your hands are limply holding on to someone (not because they’re cute, but because otherwise you’ll fall down), the only thing you’ll be able to think about is sleep.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should get between seven to nine hours of sleep per night. While six hours a night satisfies most NU students, 30 hours without sleep isn’t healthy for anyone.
“The whole time I was just thinking that it’ll be over soon,” SESP junior Heather Langerman, said. This weekend, she’ll dance for the third year in a row, and each time asks herself, “Why am I doing this again?”
What can the 750 lucky DM dancers expect? The unexpected, of course. And poor coordination. And mood swings. And maybe even hallucinations.
- Stumbling about like you just won a case race? Just like at any other worthwhile dance, you’ll be feeling drunk. According to a study by the Better Health Channel, staying awake for 24 hours reduces hand-eye coordination to that of having a blood alcohol content of 0.1. To put it in perspective, a BAC of .08 will get you a DUI in Illinois.
- Sleepy cells. And that’s not the only thing dancers should expect that mirrors intoxication. Sleep-deprivation lowers reaction speeds and causes muscles to cramp up, as cells don’t have time to rebuild and repair-a pivotal function of sleep.
- Pain in the membrane. Muscle cells aren’t the only ones who need a little rest. A recent study suggests that sleep is necessary for new brain cells to grow. So that dizzy, belligerent mood? Don’t worry, everyone is feeling it. If you make some bad decisions under a pile of coats, and wonder where your mind waltzed off to, you’ll know what to blame. Tired brain cells can also cause irritability and mood swings.
- Oh, nap. Planning on taking a nap during your 10-minute breaks between blocks? According to a study by the Internet Journal of Mental Health, it might not help as much as you hope. While mood improves slightly after a 20 minute nap, physical ability does not. The study also showed that sleep inertia (continued feelings of tiredness and slowed brain activity after you wake) does not significantly improve after a short nap.
Despite the striking similarity to torture, DM is consistently reported by dancers as a positive experience. “It’s totally worth it,” Langerman said.