The Science of Sleep: How it Affects the Academic Performance

By Lamija Skapur

Edited by Olivia Ural

In high school, balancing school work, extracurriculars, and social life often leads to late nights. However, getting enough sleep is crucial for academic success. Hence it is important to explore the impacts of getting enough and good quality sleep on memory, focus, and emotional well-being.

Our brain processes everything we have learned during the day while we are sleeping. Sleep helps move new information from short-term to long-term holding areas, making it easier to remember later. Studies show that students who sleep after studying perform better on tests than those who stay up late cramming. Therefore, sleeping is not just about resting; it helps your brain organize and store important information.

Essentially, sleep deprivation makes it harder to focus and stay alert in class. If you are tired, it is difficult to pay attention, take in new information, and solve problems effectively. In fact, being sleep-deprived can impair your brain function just like being distracted or disorganized, leading to less effective study time. A fun fact about sleep: get less than 7 hours consistently and your cognitive function will drop so much that your body will process it the same way as if you were intoxicated.

Moreover, sleep also affects your mood and emotional stability. A lack of sleep can lead to irritability, stress, and even anxiety. When you are well-rested, it is easier to manage school pressure, stay motivated, and keep a positive attitude.

The most important question is: how much sleep is enough? Most high school students need 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Creating a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding screens before bed, and ensuring a relaxing bedtime routine can help improve sleep quality. It is difficult to stick to these rules, but trying it for even just a couple of days will allow you to observe significant improvement in your overall academic performance and mood.

Sometimes people tend to consider sleeping as a waste of time, and especially if you have a lot of hobbies, sleeping may seem to be your last priority. Do not stress, sleep is not wasted time—it is essential for doing well in school. Getting enough rest strengthens memory, sharpens focus, and improves your overall well-being.

The most useful tip that you can get out of this article is that you should not leave anything for the last minute and that an organised schedule to determine when you will complete your work will ensure a good sleeping schedule, which can only help you much more than staying up late. Particularly annotating English books for our DP students! So, the next time you consider pulling an all-nighter, remember: a good night’s sleep might be the best study tool you have!

Works Cited

"How Does Lack of Sleep Affect Cognitive Impairment?" Sleep Foundation, www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-deprivation/cognitive-impairment. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.

Biello, David. "How Sleep Affects Human Performance." Springer - Sleep and Biological Rhythms, vol. 4, no. 1, 2019, pp. 85-93. SpringerLink, doi:10.1111/j.1479-8425.2006.00232.x.

"Sleep Quality, Duration, and Consistency Are Associated with Better Academic Performance in College Students." Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Nature, 1 Oct. 2019, www.nature.com/articles/s41599-019-0279-5. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.