The world we live in seems busier than ever. Most people feel like there is always so much to do and rarely ever any time to spare for rest.

For university students like me, with only 24 hours to cook, clean, work on assignments, study for quizzes and balance having a job, it can feel like every second of the day is accounted for by one task or another.

Faced with so many responsibilities, it may seem easy to forget about the importance of sleep, neglecting it to get more work done. Studying or doing assignments through the night and into the morning can seem like a reasonable idea to get all your work done. However, every hour of rest you steal from your mind and body could have severe consequences on how they function.

Continuing to get inadequate sleep can have very negative effects on a student’s academic performance. It may cause a decrease in attention span and impair problem-solving skills. This is because when we sleep, toxic cellular molecules are cleared from the brain by the glymphatic system.

If a person does not sleep, then these toxic materials remain in the brain and build up. This build-up of toxins affects reasoning in the brain and the ability to concentrate. Depriving your brain of rest can make focusing and processing information difficult.

Additionally, lack of sleep has very serious consequences on physical well-being. Extreme sleep deprivation can increase the risk of strokes and heart disease.

During the day, blood pressure is high. The heart has to pump blood to the rest of the body to support all the activities the body does throughout the day. At night, when the body takes a break from the movement, the heart does not need to pump blood as fast or as hard as the rest of the body so blood pressure drops. If a person does not sleep, then the blood pressure remains high for extended periods of time which could lead to heart disease and strokes.

Sleep is not just an expendable part of the day, but rather an integral activity for the optimal functioning of the body.

The way in which people sleep affects how they work when they are awake, so to increase productivity in most areas of a busy life, sleep is absolutely necessary.

In general, researchers agree that for a young adult (18 to 25 years) anywhere between seven to nine hours of sleep is enough for the brain and body to rest and clear our toxins.

It is not just the quantity of sleep but also the quality of sleep that affects our bodies and brains.

To improve sleep quality and quantity, it is important to start by establishing a sleep schedule. Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. This will help maintain the body’s internal clock and make it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning.

Limiting the use of electronic devices right before bed could also be helpful in relaxing the eyes and brain. The blue light from screens not only causes damage to the retina but also suppresses sleep-regulating hormones which can make it harder to fall asleep and make for lower quality sleep.

Good sleeping habits can positively impact physical health by improving muscle recovery, reducing the risk of chronic illnesses and preventing infections by strengthening the immune system. It also enhances concentration and cognitive thinking which could greatly improve academic performance. In addition, getting enough sleep reduces anxiety and depression.

I know sometimes it may feel like in the business of life, almost everything is more consequential than sleep, but the way in which people sleep affects how they show up to every other task they have. I have given you plenty of evidence of the importance of sleep for your well-being. I believe instead of sacrificing it, students should view sleep as a top priority.