Your brain is naturally wired to solve complex problems while you sleep. Have you ever struggled with a difficult problem and couldn’t find the solution despite staying up late to work on it? Surprisingly, you wake up with the answer after a
. This is the brain’s way of processing information during sleep. Studies have demonstrated that sleep helps identify challenging tasks and resolve them overnight.
Pulling an all-nighter is not a viable solution either. It has been associated with lower grades, and its negative effects can last up to four days,
and reasoning abilities.
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Additionally, attempting to wake up early and cram before an exam can be counterproductive as it interferes with the essential rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, which aids in memory consolidation. Reviewing your notes excessively might not be as helpful as you think and may impact what you have already learned.
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Instead, adopting a regular sleep schedule is crucial, especially when approaching an important exam. It’s advisable to stick to this schedule during the weekend as well, even if the exam is on a Monday, as the effects of sleep deprivation can linger for several days and affect your performance on Monday morning (2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance in college students
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).
Power Naps May be the Answer and not Caffeine
If you feel drowsy during the day, take a power nap instead of relying on caffeine. While caffeine can keep you awake, it doesn’t contribute to processing what you’ve learned. A short nap, lasting less than 20 minutes, can recharge your brain and provide an energy boost without leaving you feeling groggy.
Reference :
- Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students – (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4075951/)
- Sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance in college students – (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6773696/)
Source: Medindia
