As you look over new syllabi and begin inputting due dates into your planner, you’re probably having visions of another semester filled with late nights in Bobst, napping wherever you can, and way too much coffee. It can seem hard to balance all your responsibilities while also making sure you’re getting enough sleep to keep your mind sharp. But new research is suggesting that the actual number of hours you sleep may not be as important as how regular your sleep schedule is.
Findings from Phillips and colleagues’ (2017) recent study of college students found that sleep regularity, rather than sleep duration, predicted academic performance over the course of a semester. So when you’re planning out your weekly schedule, it may be better to factor in a regular bedtime routine rather than exhausting yourself one night and collapsing earlier the next. But while consistency is important, a “regular” 3 hours a night probably won’t do your brain a lot of good either!
For more information check out the full study here:
Phillips, A. J., Clerx, W. M., O’Brien, C. S., Sano, A., Barger, L. K., Picard, R. W., … & Czeisler, C. A. (2017). Irregular sleep/wake patterns are associated with poorer academic performance and delayed circadian and sleep/wake timing. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 1-13.
Then get to sleep!!
-Elysha Clark Whitney, Julius A Utama