You probably know that you need a full 7-8 hours of sleep at
night in order to perform at your very best, but most grown-ups
in North America don’t get that much. Are you getting all the
Zzz’s that you need? Chances are that you’re not. You know it’s
important, but you’re busy, you have so much to study and learn,
you have other responsibilities, and sleep is the first thing to
go, right?

The problem with that is that lack of sleep can be downright
harmful and incapacitating. And when you’re sleep-deprived, it
may be hard to use your normal good judgment to know how
essential sleep really is. So, here is a reminder of why sleep
is so essential to your academic success and the great benefits
of getting your rest:

1. You need a full 7-8 consecutive hours of good sleep in order
to wake up refreshed and full of energy. When you are refreshed
and full of energy your tasks seem easier. You feel good, and
strong. You feel capable. When you feel this way you can
accomplish much more and you can do it in a shorter amount of
time.

2. Getting enough sleep makes your brain work better and makes
you better able to think. Your mind is clear and sharp after a
good night’s sleep. You understand things more quickly, and you
are much more effective at problem solving.

3. You need sleep to create important memory links and
connections. When you first learn something that information is
fragile, the imprint on your brain is very delicate. When you
sleep your brain reviews that information and forges stronger
pathways so it becomes a more solid part of your knowledge base.
And we all know how very important a good memory is to your
academic success!

4. Sleep boosts your immunity. You need sleep to keep your body
healthy. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to catch colds
when you aren’t getting enough sleep and you let your body’s
resistance go down? And how effectively do you study and learn
when you have a case of the sniffles?

5. If you don’t get enough sleep, you feel crummy, right? Lack
of sleep creates unpleasant states such as increased stress,
fatigue -- where your whole body aches all over, drowsiness -- so
you feel sleepy even though it is daytime. Obviously, these are
not ideal states for your academic success.

There you have it. Sleep is a powerful tool to help you reach
the levels of academic success you are striving for. Keep up the
good work -- and get some rest. Zzzzzz.

Copyright 2006 by Teresa Bolen. All Rights Reserved.