Hormones in Your Head

Laura, aka rosefan42, has finally explained to us why we never stick to our New Years Resolutions...—Sparkitors

Fun fact time, Sparklers!

Did you know that teenagers’ brains are going through massive changes as they adjust to adulthood? Did you know these changes start around age 15 and don’t always finish until we reach our mid-20s? Did you know that these changes increase our need for immediate satisfaction and rewards and decrease our ability to make an effort based on long-term gain?

And they wonder why we’re watching repeats on VIVA at 2.am. every night instead of studying for those life-changing exams that everyone keeps banging on about.

I know, I know: I really just have to find a way to push through the work and focus on where it’ll get me. But, seriously, it’s science, and my brain is making me think this: "I should be writing up class notes, taking a practice SAT, and drafting my personal essay so I get into a good college. But college is, like, A YEAR away. Now I want to go on Facebook! No wait, email! No wait, Tumblr! Now I want food! Now I want to watch The One Where Phoebe Runs! No wait, The One After Vegas! Now I want to eat again! Actually, I should have a coffee so I can study later!”

And it’s not just study time that’s affected by this. Oh no. These devastating, scientifically proven, brain developments can have a negative effect on basically Every Important Thing Ever. For instance...

1. Health and Fitness

Okay, Sparklers, who here swore to get fit over the summer? Yep, me too. Who here went on precisely ONE run before succumbing to daytime TV and burritos? Yep, again.

It’s not that I don’t want to get fit and healthy and glamorously lean. I do, honest, but then the thought of actual effort makes me crawl back to my laptop and cake as a sort of preemptive motivational reward. So I get even frumpier and out-of-shapelier and the whole vicious guilt-inducing comfort-zone cycle starts again.

2. Bedtime

Time for another fun fact! Teenagers' brains run on a genuinely different internal clock than children and adults. The “darkness time” hormone Melatonin that make you drowsy and ready to sleep are released about 2 to 4 hours later than in adults; this explains why my parents, who aren’t exactly night owls, simply don’t understand why I’m not sleepy by 10 or even 11 in the evening. They can turn off the internet, disable the TV, take away my laptop, even take away my eight or nine favourite books, and I still won't be bored enough to be sleepy.

3. Early Mornings
With all this late-night procrastination going on, it won’t be a surprising to hear that I am almost ALWAYS still tired when my alarm goes off at 6.30 a.m, It doesn’t matter what I do–jump up, turn on the radio, open some windows, switch on some lights, have a quick shower and race to get my lunch packed–as soon as I sit down with a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea, I’m basically asleep again.

When (or more like if) I finally get to school for first period, I’m often struggling to stay awake: I listen to the teacher’s absolutely fascinating overview of 1920s Germany and I try to take down some notes… And then suddenly my head slumps, causing me to jerk awake again.

But the situation gets even worse. As if it wasn’t enough that our wacked-out sleepy hormones are making us miss out on rest and recuperation, another hormone starts interfering as well. Hello, cortisol! This “friendly” little beast is responsible for getting our brain awake, alert, and ready to process information in the mornings. And guess when we get our daily cortisol boost? About 2 to 4 hours after most adults and children! Hurray! This means our brains are literally unable to stay awake in most first-period lessons. Stupid adults with their regulated hormones...

Who am I to complain when every other teenager on this planet has to cope with the exact same problem? I should just learn to go to bed early, do some exercise in the morning to get my cortisol levels up, force myself to sit down and study in the evenings... And I really do want to give it my best shot! But this is where I need your help. Leave me tips and tricks on getting motivated and getting busy in the comments, or just a cool pep talk/motivational one-liner/sympathetic hug.

And now, prepare yourself for the grand return of…

HLBLNAIATUSOA! (Help Laura Be Less Naïve And Ignorant About The US Of A!)

Answers to any and all of these questions would be muchly appreciated!

1. My teachers are still somehow being deliberately vague about letters of recommendation. Anyone know any sites where I can direct them to sample letters and writing guidelines?

2. When EXACTLY are you guys’ holidays/vacations? Your summer break seems to start REALLY EARLY and go on REALLY LONG, but do you then not get any time off until Christmas? What about at Easter? (I’m guessing this varies from school to school, right?)

3.  Did any of you watch Torchwood? I know Lucy Hutchinson is blogging them from the start, but I’m referring to the recent “Miracle Day” season 4. I watched it religiously, saw its faults and loved it even more. NO SPOILERS for the sake of those UK viewers of superhuman strength who have not yet “sought out” Episode 10.

MTITIGAYSLTAW! (Music That I Think Is Good And You Should Listen To As Well!)

"F.R.I.E.N.D.S Opening Credits Song." Also known as “I’ll Be There for You.” The house has felt strangely silent ever since that dreadful day when the LAST EVER episode of Friends was repeated on E4.

"The Big Bang Theory Opening Credits Song. " As the eldest child of the first couple in a group of mathematicians and physicists, I basically grew up in house parties with Sheldon and Howard-a-likes.

"Skater Boy" by Avril Lavigne. This was kind of the soundtrack to 11-year-old me’s LIFE. I won the Year 6 Talent Show with an a capella rendition of this!

And now to some questions asked and points raised in last week’s post…

cookiesncream14 and <3Malfoy123—Until I read your comments and did a hurried Wikipedia search, I had no idea The Situation was even a Jersey Shore thing. I just refers to my SO/long distance partner/boyfriend/thing as The Situation in order to avoid too many questions and confusions. If you really want to know, I’m way easier to talk to on tumblr.

Emily_Jeanette—Happy late birthday wishes for your mum! She shares the day a World War One Poet, Alecia Beth More, AND AN ACTUAL HOBBIT.

rasha.black—Hey! I know that name! You’re a tumblr person!

pinkmushrooms and Amyga17—I hate you. Both of you. I want my Pottermore email!

Look at this! Look at this! It’s rocket ship cellochic44, star kid cellochic44, moon shoes cellochic44…

Tumtumtree—awww, good luck! I’m sending lots of e-cookies and virtual hugs your way.

Tinessael—you’ll be glad to hear that I have made my English/Maths decision! Can to guess what it is?

And with that shocking cliff-hanger…

Laura :) x

Do you have any advice for getting around teenage hormones? Leave it in the comments!

Related Posts: Help Laura Get to Yale!

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