Sleep is a vital necessity for students. It is equally essential as food, water, and shelter for human survival. However, many people fail to recognize its significance in maintaining functioning and sustaining life. In his article “Sacrificing Sleep For Study Time Doesn’t Make The Grade,” Michael Breus asserts that staying up late studying can lead to academic difficulties the next day.
All students globally face the repercussions of procrastination on their assignments and study time. Additionally, they encounter various academic and extracurricular obligations that consume a substantial amount of their time, hindering them from having enough time for studying. Consequently, numerous students find themselves staying up late at night prior to an exam in hopes of obtaining outstanding grades. Nonetheless, this insufficient sleep can adversely impact their performance. Michael Breus authored this article to emphasize the significance of getting sufficient sleep.
This article explores the topic of sleep in teenagers and the recommended amount they should be getting. It also delves into the consequences that can come with not getting enough sleep. The text aims to delve into the significance of sleep, both positive and negative impacts it can have, and the daily requirements for sleep. Despite not fully understanding why we need to sleep, it is undeniable that it plays a crucial role in our lives as we devote a substantial portion of our day to it. There are numerous theories and hypotheses that attempt to shed light on this mystery. Sleep serves various purposes such as serving as a protective mechanism, aiding in recovery, facilitating restoration, enhancing memory consolidation, and fostering creative thinking.
Sleep plays a vital role in the overall well-being of all living creatures, affecting their longevity, physical strength, memory retention, and emotional stability. Insufficient sleep not only impairs bodily functions but also interferes with memory and disrupts emotions. During sleep, individuals experience relaxation and rest while remaining unaware of their surroundings; however, their bodily functions continue to operate. This process is regulated by the circadian rhythm, an internal biological clock that aligns with the 24-hour cycle of day and night.
Disruptions to the circadian rhythm can have detrimental effects on the sleep-wake cycle, especially when students stay up late studying. This throws off their 24-hour schedule and leads to difficulties in the morning. Staying up late effectively resets our biological clock. However, cutting back on study time is not the answer; instead, we should establish a schedule that matches our circadian rhythm. While sleeping, our brain goes through various stages, including the REM stage or paradoxical stage, which is highly significant. During this stage, muscles relax while other bodily systems stay active.
REM sleep, also known as rapid eye movement sleep, is characterized by deep relaxation in which the brain’s motor cortex remains active but is unable to send signals to the muscles due to the brainstem (Myers, 2012, p. 74). During this stage, there may be occasional twitching observed in the fingers, toes, or face. Typically occurring about an hour after falling asleep, REM sleep is accompanied by increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and regular eye movements every thirty seconds. Sufficient sleep plays a crucial role for various reasons; conversely, insufficient sleep can result in negative effects such as hallucinations, paranoia, and abnormal behavior.
Insufficient sleep disrupts effective communication between the brain and body, hindering proper functioning. It is crucial for the brain to rest adequately. Moreover, lack of rest can result in potential health problems. Research suggests that the quality of sleep obtained before studying or attending class significantly influences academic performance, with students who get more sleep generally performing better on tests the next morning. When students stay up late studying, they endeavor to recall specific information in a particular sequence.
Instead of truly learning the material, students are simply memorizing scripted responses. Getting a good night’s sleep before an exam can improve concentration and increase energy levels, leading to better test performance. Insufficient sleep can also hinder memory and make it hard to recall studied information. Furthermore, lack of sleep raises the probability of weight gain, involvement in risky behaviors, and feelings of depression among students.
All the negative effects of insufficient sleep greatly impact students and their academic success. There are also various sleep disorders that can lead to inadequate sleep, with insomnia being the most common. Insomnia is characterized by difficulties in starting or maintaining sleep, including trouble falling asleep, frequent awakenings at night with difficulty returning to sleep, waking up early in the morning, and feeling tired upon awakening. It is crucial to take into account the required amount of sleep for achieving a satisfactory test grade the next morning.
On average, people typically need around 8 or 9 hours of sleep per night for recovery. It is interesting to note that the overall length of sleep remains consistent regardless of factors like latitude, climate, chosen sleep hours, and societal patterns (Hartmann, 1978, p. 54). Among young adults, the average nightly sleep duration ranges from 7 to 8 hours despite variations in these factors. However, there may be times when an individual’s sleep needs differ. Additionally, genes influence the amount of sleep each person needs. As individuals get older, their sleep requirements generally decrease.
Babies need more sleep than adults, and when adults don’t get enough sleep, they build up a sleep debt that needs to be repaid. Students often make up for this debt by napping in class or skipping school the next day. If students don’t fully compensate for their lack of sleep, they may face problems like impaired thinking, trouble concentrating, higher stress levels, and fatigue. Although some people try to repay their sleep debt on weekends, completely recovering from severe sleep deprivation is difficult. It can take weeks to completely catch up.
In his article “Sacrificing Sleep For Study Time Doesn’t Make The Grade,” Michael Breus explains that oversleeping can have detrimental effects, including increased laziness, fatigue, and even the potential for diabetes. To excel academically, it is generally advised that students aim for an average of 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Consequently, obtaining sufficient rest can enhance cognitive abilities and improve academic performance by creating an optimal environment for information retention.
Insufficient sleep among students can result in reduced academic performance and lower grades as their brains struggle to retain information without adequate rest. Sleep is vital not only for academic success but also for the general well-being of all living beings. To excel in any field, individuals need sufficient energy, which can be obtained through proper sleep. By helping students and individuals maintain focus and energy levels, sleep plays a pivotal role in aiding them to achieve their goals.
