The majority of students are tired coming back to school.

In a recent quick survey of 10 Morton East students, 9 said they are tired returning to school, while 1 claimed they are not. Many students say they are extremely tired coming back because their sleep schedules were disrupted. They stayed up late and woke up very late, and suddenly waking up early again has disrupted the sleep pattern they had developed.

According to Google AI, students frequently return from spring break feeling more exhausted than when they left, a phenomenon often attributed to disrupted circadian rhythms and the “post-vacation slump.” Research into student wellness indicates that while breaks are intended for rest, only about 8% of students consistently receive the recommended 9 hours of sleep. The sudden shift back to academic rigor can trigger significant fatigue. According to recent data on student burnout, physical symptoms like chronic fatigue affect nearly 70% of students who struggle with academic pressure. Additionally, the transition from a week of late mornings back to strict schedules can take a week or longer for normal sleep patterns to stabilize.

“Not good. I wanted to sleep in. My mom forced me to go back to school, and I didn’t even know we had school today. They should’ve given us two weeks,” said junior Imanol Salazar.

Adults believe that returning to school is important for learning.

“Yes, as do teachers. People are out of their routines and probably stay up late and sleep in,” said Chicago history teacher Ms. Jennie Crownson.