Why Sleep is a Good Study Habit

By Guest Blogger Sarah Jones

Oops, did you hit another stone while sleepwalking? Do you realize how much your poor sleeping habits are affecting you at school? You might argue that you have lots of assignments and revision to do before retiring to bed but we all know that these are just excuses. If your plan your time well, then you won’t have to be the “last minute” type of student. Below are some of the reasons why you should never waste a minute of your sleep time.

Memory Improvement

When you sleep, your brain is able to link new absorbed information to the information previously absorbed. By doing so, the information you have read will be stored so that it’s readily available when needed. According to the National Sleep Foundation, health changes in the brain are triggered while we are sleeping. This helps to make the connections of our brain cells strong and transfer of information from one region of the brain to another. Inadequate sleep causes our neurons to be overworked hence not able to coordinate the information we receive well.

Optimization of attention levels

Your body requires sleep to recharge. Insufficient sleep will make you feel drowsy and fatigued. You will feel the urge to take a nap instead of concentrating on your lectures. When well rested, you will have the energy and attention to carry out your tasks effortlessly.

Healthy sleep makes you smarter

When you sleep, the brain processes what you’ve learned while awake and stores it. Difficult stimuli are processed by the brain while you are sleeping. These stimuli are utilized the next day when you wake up to make complex decisions. Consequently, this improves your intelligence.

Improved Focus

According to research, sleep boosts your cognitive abilities. We need sleep for our body organs to be synchronized, for our muscles to rest, and the neurons to function optimally. Inadequate sleep may hinder your ability to filter the information you receive. It impairs selective attention (the ability to focus on particular information while other things are occurring next to you.)

Improves mental well-being

Good quality sleep can help you when dealing with stress, depression and daily frustrations. As a result, you feel more optimistic and happier, ready to handle the daily frustrations.

Sleep keeps your anxiety and mood in check

When you have poor sleep, you wake up feeling moody and cranky the following day. Change in our moods alters our ability to acquire and remember new information. This can consequently affect your learning abilities. Poor performance in school might affect your ability to deal with situations naturally and with time this may become worse leading to anxiety and depression.

The Way Forward

Revamping your room, creating a sleeping schedule, regular exercises and practicing a regular bedtime ritual are some of the ways that can help you sleep better if you experience difficulties falling asleep. Remember to seek professional advice if you persistently feel sleep deprived. They will help you identify the reason for your lack of sleep.

In Conclusion

Sleep will not only help you stay healthy but it will also help you function properly. Do not ever look at sleep as a downtime or substitute it with your revision. Yes, you will accomplish what you wanted to do at that time but will be putting your physical and mental health at risk. Make sure you get a minimum of 7 hours of quality sleep each day and you will enjoy a successful study habit.

Sarah Jones, feeling the repercussions of being an irregular sleeper, decided to do something about it. She learned why sleep is so important and how to optimize it, and is now helping others who are struggling to find their right sleep routine at Sleepy Deep. A History Major from the University of Oregon, she has a passion for health and well-being, and believes they are integral ingredients for optimal learning capabilities.