By the time the first bell rings, kids are already exhausted. Scrolling on their phones, homework, and extracurricular activities make sleep their last priority. When sleep goes, so does a student’s energy, focus, and ability to learn.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep organizes, strengthens, and stores new information, which is critical for academic success. Without enough sleep, students have a hard time focusing and retaining information throughout the day.

In addition, sleep plays a major role in mental health and emotional balance. Well-rested students are better able to manage stress, stay motivated, and maintain a positive attitude overall. On the other hand, sleep deprivation is linked to increased anxiety, irritability, and burnout—which leads to academic struggle.

Decision making and reaction time can also be affected by lack of sleep and both of those things are critical in the classroom and daily life. When well-rested, students make smarter decisions and think thoroughly about what they are doing. In contrast, running on little sleep can lead to careless mistakes and slower thinking.

Students should be getting about 8-10 hours of sleep each night to feel energized for a whole school day. You should put your phone up one hour before you lay in bed and eat a good meal 1-2 hours before sleeping.

Ultimately, sleep is not a waste of your time–it is a need for success. Having a consistent sleep schedule can improve your focus and boost your mood. As students juggle a busy schedule with homework and extracurriculars, remembering the power of a good night’s sleep may be one of the smartest decisions you could make for your academic success.