SCRANTON — Students often sacrifice their sleep schedule for academics or extracurriculars, which is why C.H.E.W. (Center for Health Education & Wellness) is offering a sleep challenge to improve sleeping habits.

Students, faculty and staff are allowed to participate in this challenge, which began April 7 and required registration on Royal Sync.

A survey asked people their role at the university and their year if they are a student. The survey also asked specific questions, including their duration of sleep, how long it takes for them to fall asleep and three goals they have during the duration of the challenge.

Casey Siggia, the assistant director for C.H.E.W., has a primary role of advising and overseeing the Peer Health Education Program.

Siggia emphasizes that sleep impacts our overall well-being, our energy levels and our immunity.

She mentioned possible reasons why college students struggle with a healthy sleep schedule, such as pulling all-nighters to study for exams, or wanting to stay up late to hang out with friends.  

Casey said the reason for the challenge was for students to recognize their sleeping patterns and improve upon them.

“So we figured a sleep challenge was a different way to have students look at their overall well-being and prioritize their wellness in that regard,” Siggia said.

The sleep challenge is not strict in asking people to have between seven hours and nine hours of sleep.

Instead, there is a bigger emphasis on sleeping patterns.

“Well, we’re asking them to do is look at those routines, those habits, those behaviors that they have and to just be mindful of different things that they could be doing throughout the day or in the evening to help them prioritize through,” Siggia said.

Amelia Semple, a senior English major with a Communications minor, with a Women & Gender Studies on the honors track, is one of many students participating in the sleep challenge.

She has a busy schedule and is realizing that her sleeping habits need improving.

For example, instead of waking up at 7 or 8 a.m., she sets her alarm for 6.

“It’s not fun waking up at the crack of dawn for your morning classes and then feeling like the need to go to sleep or try to go to Starbucks to make it through the rest of your day, Semple said.

She wants to make her health a priority first before being a student.

Semple has three goals during this challenge: to try to go to bed at a reasonable time, try to find an effective way to read without looking at her phone and to try to wake up with no laying in her bed.

The challenge runs until April 27. During the duration of three weeks, participants must log their sleeping data to stay up to date with the challenge.

For those who forgot to sign up, there is another opportunity to receive advice for sleeping habits via a digital series alongside the weekly emails.

“So (if) people didn’t necessarily sign up, they’re still going to be getting some information if they follow us on our Instagram, @uofschew, through something called a slumber series,” Siggia said.

As a reward, there will be multiple prizes for sleep challenge participants through a raffle, like weighted blankets, weighted stuffed animals and a sunrise alarm clock.