Sleep and academic performance

As a busy student, you can be tempted to pull an all-nighter before the big exam to maximize your study time. However, studies show that putting away the books and hitting the sheets are far more helpful in academic performance. Not getting enough sleep impairs your brain’s natural functions. This, in turn, affects how you do in class.

When you don’t get enough sleep, your ability to pay attention goes down. This lack of focus can make it difficult to concentrate in class or on your assignments. Lack of sleep slows your reaction time and alertness, making it difficult to process new information and slow your response time when studying. When you don’t get enough sleep, the prefrontal cortex part of your brain is most affected. This is where several vital functions happen related to language, memory, and logical thinking.

How much sleep do I need?

Studies show that adult students who get more sleep perform better in the classroom than their peers who don’t get enough rest. So how much sleep is recommended for adults? It’s suggested to get between 7 to 9 hours each night to maintain good overall health and brain function. Consistently getting less than seven hours a night is linked to several health conditions.

Just as important as the number of hours is the quality of your sleep. Waking up a lot or frequent interruptions during the night increase the number of hours that you need to sleep. Otherwise, you might be at risk of sleep deprivation.

How to get better sleep

If you want to improve your sleep game, here are some tips.

• Set a routine. Practicing good sleep hygiene means sticking to a daily bedtime and wake-up time. This includes the weekends, too, so choose realistic times for you to commit to each day.

• Set it up. To get a good night’s rest that maximizes learning the next day, make your bedroom a place that’s as comfortable as possible. This can mean something different for everyone, but experts agree that a dark, cool room that’s quiet and free of distractions is best.

• Shut it down. It’s important to shut down devices with a screen an hour before bed. This means you may have to stop studying earlier than you want to let your mind relax and get ready to sleep. You should also keep your room free from electronic devices at night and avoid studying in bed. Your brain should associate your bed with relaxation, not studying.

If you still have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about ways to get more rest.

Sleep for success

As you see, sleep is a key component in your success as a MedCerts student. Make sure that you get enough sleep each night so that you can make the most of each class and do your best. Try out these tips and see how more rest affects your academic performance.