The Science of Sleep: A Guide to Prevent Students from Being a Zombie
Did you know that 60% of college students have poor sleep quality? If you ever hit the hay exhausted but still feel like counting sheep all night, then this article on the science of sleep is for you.
Think of your body like a phone—it needs to recharge at night! But sleep isn’t just about plugging in. It’s about your body repairing itself and getting ready to crush that next hectic day.
The problem is that, with all the stress, homework, and late-night social media scrolling, many students miss out on quality sleep. That is why we have decided to help you RELAX.
This article will explore why the science of sleep matters to students like you. We will cover the following points in this article:
Let’s Explore the Science of Sleep in Detail
1.????? What is the Science of Sleep?
To understand the basic science of sleep, you must first learn what sleep is.
Simply put, sleep is when your body takes a break and rests. It’s a state where you become less aware of what’s happening around you, and your body goes through expected changes. It’s an important part of staying alive and healthy.
“Interesting fact alert: Did you know that we spend one-third of our lives sleeping or attempting to sleep?”
Now that you know what sleep is, let us proceed to how the human body falls asleep:
Internal Clock: Your brain has a natural “sleep-wake cycle” controlled by light. As darkness falls, a pea-sized gland called the pineal gland kicks in, producing melatonin, a sleep hormone. Melatonin makes you drowsy.
Winding Down: Your body temperature drops slightly, muscles relax, and brainwaves slow down. You might feel sluggish and ready to doze off.
Drifting Off: You enter Stage 1 of sleep, a very light sleep where you can be easily awakened. The brainwave activity slows further, and your eyes might slowly move from side to side.
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Deeper Sleep: As you progress through stages 2, 3, and 4 of non-REM sleep, your body enters a deeper sleep state. This is when your body does important repair work.
Dream Time: About 90 minutes after falling asleep, you enter REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is the stage where you dream.
2.????? Why is Sleep Important for Students?
Sleeping well every day is very important for students. If you, as a student, sleep well, it will benefit you both mentally and physically.
Notably, the science of sleep says that a healthy sleep schedule for students helps them build stronger memories and enables them to learn better.
Your brain absorbs and combines the knowledge you acquire during the day while you sleep, which facilitates its recollection and application the following day.
On the flip side, insufficient sleep hurts academic performance. Students who don’t get enough sleep may have trouble focusing, paying attention, and solving problems, which can result in subpar academic performance and setbacks.
Apart from these factors, good sleep benefits the body in the following ways: