You probably know that you need a full 7-8 hours of sleep at night in order to perform at your very best, but most grown-ups in North America dont get that much. Are you getting all the Zzzs that you need? Chances are that youre not. You know its important, but youre busy, you have so much to study and learn, you have other responsibilities, and sleep is the first thing to go, right?

The problem with that is that lack of sleep can be downright harmful and incapacitating. And when youre sleep-deprived, it may be hard to use your normal good judgment to know how essential sleep really is. So, here is a reminder of why sleep is so essential to your academic success and the great benefits of getting your rest:

1. You need a full 7-8 consecutive hours of good sleep in order to wake up refreshed and full of energy. When you are refreshed and full of energy your tasks seem easier. You feel good, and strong. You feel capable. When you feel this way you can accomplish much more and you can do it in a shorter amount of time.

2. Getting enough sleep makes your brain work better and makes you better able to think. Your mind is clear and sharp after a good nights sleep. You understand things more quickly, and you are much more effective at problem solving.

3. You need sleep to create important memory links and connections. When you first learn something that information is fragile, the imprint on your brain is very delicate. When you sleep your brain reviews that information and forges stronger pathways so it becomes a more solid part of your knowledge base. And we all know how very important a good memory is to your academic success!

4. Sleep boosts your immunity. You need sleep to keep your body healthy. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to catch colds when you arent getting enough sleep and you let your bodys resistance go down? And how effectively do you study and learn when you have a case of the sniffles?

5. If you dont get enough sleep, you feel crummy, right? Lack of sleep creates unpleasant states such as increased stress, fatigue -- where your whole body aches all over, drowsiness -- so you feel sleepy even though it is daytime. Obviously, these are not ideal states for your academic success.

There you have it. Sleep is a powerful tool to help you reach the levels of academic success you are striving for. Keep up the good work -- and get some rest. Zzzzzz.

Copyright 2006 by Teresa Bolen. All Rights Reserved.