Too little sleep negatively impacts academic performance

Not getting enough sleep does more than just make you an ugly looking, stressed out grouch, it lowers the marks on your report card.

This week’s Neurotechnology tip encourages you to get enough sleep, by improving your sleep hygiene.

Poor sleepers get poor grades

Research presented at the SLEEP 2011 conference proved poor sleepers, get poor grades.

The sleep habits of 43 college students were assessed, several times, during the academic year, through comprehensive questionnaires. The data was then correlated with their academic record. Students whose sleep hygiene worsened over time, saw their marks decline.

Poor sleepers also feel miserable

Poor sleep hygiene did not only negatively impact on the academic report card, but showed up in a more negative disposition in general.

Students practising poor sleep hygiene reported

Feeling more stressed
Feeling more depressed
Feeling more exhausted
Feeling more cynical

Academic success requires good sleep hygiene

Sleep hygiene is all about your habits and behaviours.

Try to have a relaxing bedtime routine
Try to go to bed at the same time every night
Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and at night
Limit the use of electronic gadgets late at night

Prioritize sleep for a first rate report card

The advice to get enough sleep is not some conspiracy to cut short the time available for enjoying life. Sleep is not a nice to have, which is squeezed in when you run out of other stuff to do, it is a necessity.

Press release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.