To many, the hours spent at night cuddled up, asleep in our duvet are simply a way to recharge their batteries before facing the day ahead. Sleep is a daily routine, helping us to perform basic cognitive functions, from improving fine motor skills to better reaction time, without needing to put any effort into it. 

A good night's sleep comes down to three things: the time you spend asleep, the quality of your sleep (whether it is interrupted or not), and the consistency of your sleep schedule. In the United States, it’s estimated that around 30% of adults and 66% of adolescents are sleep deprived, which can have major impacts on memory and learning ability. Studies even show that regularly getting less than 6 hours of sleep increases stroke risk by 5 times, as opposed to non- sleep deprived people. When we get sleepier, our body secrets sleep- inducing hormones, such as melatonin and adenosine to tell us that it’s time to fall asleep, which is when our body begins to clear out waste products in our brain using cerebrospinal fluid and lymphatic vessels. Without sleep these waste products build up, and our brain isn’t able to refresh our memories fast enough or learn in the way that it should. In fact, a study was produced to show that sleep deprived people have 40% less capability in learning than those getting enough sleep. 

As students, it’s easy to forget the real importance of letting ourselves rest, and letting our brain do what it needs to in order to fuel our memories, motor movements and learning. So, maybe that extra hour or two sleeping, instead of studying just before your test could mean the difference between passing and failing.