Unlocking Success: The Impact of Sleep on College Students’ Academic Achievements

Aug 31, 2023 | Blog, Health

Picture this: It is 2 a.m., and the campus library is buzzing with students, coffee cups in hand, cramming for an exam. While this scene might be all too familiar for many, is sacrificing sleep truly worth it? Come dive into the science behind sleep and its impact on academic success.

Understanding Sleep: More Than Just Rest

Sleep is not just about shutting our eyes after a tiring day. It is a vital physiological process that allows our bodies to restore and rejuvenate, and our brains to consolidate information and memories.1

Sleep primarily consists of two stages:

1. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep:

REM sleep is a stage of sleep associated with dreaming and memory consolidation. It was first discovered in the 1950s when scientists observed distinct periods of rapid eye movements in sleeping infants.2

Characteristics:
  • Relaxed muscles.
  • Quick eye movement.
  • Irregular breathing.
  • Elevated heart rate.
  • Increased brain activity.
  • Brain wave activity similar to wakefulness.
  • Complete loss of muscle tone (to prevent acting out dreams).
  • Ability to be awoken more easily than during non-REM sleep.2
Functions:
  • Dreaming: Most vivid dreams occur during REM sleep.
  • Emotional Processing: The brain processes emotions during this stage, with the amygdala (part of the brain responsible for emotions) being active.
  • Memory Consolidation: The brain processes new learnings and motor skills from the day, deciding which to commit to memory, maintain, or delete.
  • Brain Development: REM sleep is believed to promote brain development, especially in newborns.
  • Wakefulness Preparation: REM sleep might help prepare the body to wake up.2

2. Non-REM Sleep:

Non-REM sleep encompasses stages of sleep that are not characterized by rapid eye movement. It includes three stages leading up to REM sleep.2

Characteristics:
  • Eyes do not move.
  • Brain waves are slower.
  • Some muscle tone is maintained.
  • Steady, slower breathing.
  • Heart rate slows down.2
Stages:
  • Stage 1 (Light Sleep): Transition from wakefulness to sleep. Brain slows down and breathing is regular.
  • Stage 2 (Light Sleep): Decrease in heart rate and body temperature. Transition towards deep sleep.
  • Stage 3 (Deep Sleep): Deepest sleep stage with the slowest brain waves (delta waves). It is hard to wake someone from this stage. This stage is crucial for physical restoration, including boosting the immune system and repairing bones, muscles, and tissue.2

Both REM and non-REM sleep are essential for overall health and well-being. While REM sleep plays a significant role in dreaming, emotional processing, and brain development, non-REM sleep, especially the deep sleep stages, is crucial for physical restoration and rejuvenation.2

Sleep and Academic Success: The Undeniable Link

Sleep is the backbone of cognitive functions like attention, memory, critical thinking, and creativity—all pillars of academic success. But what happens when we compromise on sleep?

  • Memory: Without adequate sleep, students might struggle to remember what they have studied.3
  • Creativity and Problem-Solving: Essential for learning, these capabilities can wane without proper sleep. Research has shown that sleep boosts innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, crucial for understanding complex academic concepts.4
  • Focus and Mood: Aside from impacting memory and creativity, lack of sleep can also affect students’ mental health. One study in the “Journal of Adolescent Health” found that each hour of lost sleep is associated with a 38% increase in the odds of feeling sad or hopeless, and a 58% increase in suicide attempts among students.5

The Stress-Sleep Cycle

College life is often synonymous with stress. This stress can disrupt sleep, leading to a cycle where stress causes sleep disturbances, and lack of sleep amplifies stress. High stress can lead to sleep issues like insomnia, and insufficient sleep can heighten stress and anxiety levels.

Survey findings further emphasize the intricate relationship between stress and sleep. American adults, on average, sleep for only 6.7 hours a night, which is less than the recommended seven to nine hours.6 A significant 42% of adults describe their sleep quality as either fair or poor. Stress is a significant factor affecting sleep, with 43% of adults stating that stress has caused them to lie awake at night in the past month. This relationship is reciprocal: 21% of adults feel more stressed when they do not get enough sleep.6

Practical Tips for Better Sleep

Looking to enhance academic performance by breaking the cycle of sleep-related stress?

Consider these steps:

  1. Set a Routine: Try to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
  2. Create a Sleep Sanctuary: Ensure your sleeping environment is dark, quiet, and cool.
  3. Limit Screen Time: The blue light from devices can interfere with sleep. Try to switch off screens at least an hour before bedtime.
  4. Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol: Consuming these close to bedtime can disrupt sleep patterns.
  5. Seek Support: If stress is affecting your sleep, consider counseling or stress management resources available on campus.

For a more personalized approach, consider a wearable tracking device to monitor distinct sleep patterns.

The Role of Sleep Tracking and Monitoring Devices

In our modern, technology-driven world, sleep tracking and monitoring devices have become increasingly popular. These gadgets, which range from wearable tech like smartwatches to specialized sleep monitors, can provide valuable insights into sleep patterns and quality.

Understanding Sleep Metrics and Patterns

These devices typically track a variety of sleep metrics such as total sleep duration, sleep stages (light, deep, REM), and instances of wakefulness during the night. Some devices even monitor physiological markers like heart rate and breathing patterns. Through analyzing this data, students can gain a deeper understanding of their sleep health and identify potential issues such as irregular sleep schedules, frequent night awakenings, or lack of deep sleep.

Identifying Sleep Issues with Technology

Sleep tracking devices could be particularly beneficial in an academic context. By highlighting disruptions in sleep patterns, these devices can alert students to potential problems. For example, if a student notices through tracking that their sleep is regularly interrupted or shorter on days before exams, they might recognize that anxiety is impacting their sleep quality. They could then seek out strategies or resources to manage this anxiety, thereby potentially improving both their sleep and performance in school.

Benefits of Sleep Tracking in Academia

Additionally, when students can visibly see the correlation between a good night’s sleep and improvements in mood, focus, and productivity the next day, they may be more inclined to prioritize sleep. This direct feedback can be a powerful motivator for developing and maintaining good sleep hygiene habits.

While sleep tracking devices are not a solution on their own, they can be powerful tools when combined with an informed understanding of sleep’s impact on academic performance and an intention to take actionable steps towards better sleep health.

Learn More About Sleep and Academic Success

Good sleep is essential, not a luxury. To nurture successful, innovative thinkers, understanding the importance of sleep is key. Students, parents, and educators alike need to prioritize sleep for mental empowerment. At Somnology, we’re dedicated to transforming sleep science into practical solutions. Our comprehensive services and sleep monitoring platform cater to everyone in the sleep care journey, from patients to healthcare providers. Our innovative SLaaS® platform, telemedicine services, SomnoRing®, and SomnologyMD app revolutionize sleep care, bringing lab-quality analysis to your fingertips. We’re committed to guiding you towards better sleep. Learn more on our website.

References:

  1. Sleep and memory. Sleep Medicine. (n.d.). https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-88 
  2. REM sleep: What it is and why it matters. Sleep Foundation. (2023, August 8). https://www.sleepfoundation.org/stages-of-sleep/rem-sleep 
  3. Diekelmann, S., & Born, J. (2010). The memory function of sleep. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 11(2), 114–126. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2762
  4. Lewis, P. A., Knoblich, G., & Poe, G. (2018). How Memory Replay in Sleep Boosts Creative Problem-Solving. Trends in cognitive sciences, 22(6), 491–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2018.03.009
  5. Roberts, R. E., Roberts, C. R., & Duong, H. T. (2009). Sleepless in adolescence: prospective data on sleep deprivation, health and functioning. Journal of adolescence, 32(5), 1045–1057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.03.007
  6. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Stress and sleep. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/sleep