Midterms- the week when we all finally realize that college is actually really happening.
If you’re like many college kids who freak out over their exams and want nothing more than to score an A for the halfway mark, then you’re probably familiar with all-nighters. In fact, have all-night-long cram sessions are so common in college that I usually find myself wondering why I’m not having more of these. But believe me, if you want an A on that test… resist the urge.
According to Steven Holbrok of U.S. News and World Report’s, there are five reasons (among many) why you shouldn’t deprive yourself of sleeping to study a few extra hours.
1. No Sleep = Bad Grades- According to a study done at St. Lawrence University, students who routinely pulled all-nighters scored an average GPA of 2.9, while those who didn’t earned an of GPA of 3.1.
2. No Sleep = Forgetful Mind– Not only does not sleeping make you, well at least in my case, a completely unpleasant person to be around, but it also makes you extremely forgetful. We need sleep to repair and heal our mind. If you don’t get any sleep, you’re going to make it very hard for yourself to remember things from earlier that day.
3. Cramming Sucks– Yet many other studies also show that the worst studying habits are those that involve cramming. In order to truly learn your material, it’s best to do so over a period of time. You knew about your midterm since the first day of class. There’s no excuse!
4. False Energy– It’s very common to experience a “second wind” of energy in the early hours of your study session. This is not a new found jolt of energy but actually short-term euphoria. This is your body crying for help… or your bed.
5. You’ll Look Old– Gasp! Not only can a lack of sleep make you feel but look like a zombie. According to the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, your chances for a future stroke will significantly increase if you routinely get less than six hours of sleep per night.
Study hard and go to bed!