Sleep and success go hand in hand

By Jenna Munswami

Everyone’s bodies are different. I know I can only function with eight hours of sleep, but I know people who do just fine with half of that. However, there is more to sleeping than just feeling awake and getting out of bed; it is vital to our well-being.

Growing up, it was almost seen as “lame” to go to bed early. High school students would practically brag about how little sleep they got. While this phenomenon has died down in college, there is still a culture of staying up late to get things done. Everyone has occasionally pushed past that tired feeling to turn in an assignment close to the deadline, but this should not be the norm.

A 2023 article published by the Society of Behavioral Medicine claims that around 60% of undergraduate students have poor sleep quality and 25% of these students experience insomnia symptoms. While there are people who do have sleep disorders, most college students choose to sleep late. 

I will always advocate for self-care; getting good sleep is a part of that. After a long day of classes, work or anything else that occupies your day, getting ready for bed might be the last thing you want to do. I get it. Catching up with friends and family or taking some time to chill and do something fun is also important. At the end of the day, though, your body requires rest. Even if you are not utterly exhausted, sleep is the best thing you can do to prepare for the following day.

Generally, seven to nine hours of sleep is what is recommended for everyone 18 years of age and older. That number might not always be feasible, but it is something to strive for. If you have morning classes or a morning work shift this is even more important. Going through the day tired can leave you feeling unmotivated and unable to focus. No one wants to do work when the only thing the brain can think about is how much you miss your bed. At one point, I had to do an early exam after not getting enough sleep while sick — it was not fun. 

Similarly, sleep is incredibly important when it comes to healing from an illness. While being in college, I have heard of diseases more serious than just the common cold going around. Making sure you are getting enough rest plays a part in both preventing illness and recovering from it. 

For academic reasons, getting enough sleep plays a part in memorization. Learning something and sleeping on it will show more positive results than pushing yourself to stay awake, according to the National Library of Medicine. Sleeping enough will also keep you awake and focused during those lectures that seem to drag on forever. This will keep you more productive during the day which will hopefully lead to less work to do at night.

There are numerous other lifestyle benefits that come from being well rested. As previously mentioned, your immune system will be supported by this. Sleeping can also reduce your risk of injury, reduce stress and improve your mood. 

Nevertheless, I am still not a complete killjoy. We all have moments where we really need to take an extra shift, finish that last assignment or simply go out and enjoy ourselves. Nonetheless, trying at least once a week to prioritize sleep could improve your academic and personal life.

Jenna Munswami is a junior communication studies major