The start of the academic year brings many changes to the lifestyle routines of students all across the campus. Many students may find themselves flocking to the gym in an effort to improve their fitness, to the library to boost their GPA, or to the lake to soak up the last warm days of the year. However, with all of the extracurriculars found on campus and homework assignments piling up on desks, it is not surprising that students may forget to keep a regular sleep schedule and get the sufficient amount of rest every night. Without sleep, students may find themselves dragging through those four years.

Every year, like clockwork, a new study is released about the effects of sleep deprivation on students of all ages. This year’s study was conducted by Harvard Medical School and found a direct correlation between regular sleep schedules and higher GPAs among students.

This is not a shocking revelation for students, especially in college. Since elementary school, everyone has been reminded to get the recommended eight to nine hours of sleep a night. While that may have been an attainable standard in middle school and high school, the rigorous schedule of college can leave students feeling pressed for time, going to extreme measures like as pulling all-nighters, in order to finish assignments.

The Harvard study concluded that regular sleep schedules are more beneficial to students, even if they do not get a full eight hours, than an irregular schedule that includes nights of little sleep followed by weekends spent sleeping the day away.

As a college student, eight hours of sleep may seem impossible to achieve, but a regular sleep schedule is not unattainable. By finishing homework, or extracurricular activities, at a consistent time every night, be that 11 p.m. or 2 a.m., students may see an improvement in their GPA for the semester.

Freshmen may be tempted to revel in their new-found freedom and stay up all night watching Netflix or hanging out with friends, but their grades may be suffering and result in a less than stellar first semester performance. Parents want their kids to enjoy college’s many social experiences and get involved on campus, however, when that comes at the cost of their grades, they will not be thrilled.

This study boils down to a simple point: better sleep will result in better grades. Instead of cramming for a test at 3 in the morning, students should budget their time and find the right sleep schedule for their lifestyle. While no one ever remembers the sleep they got during their college years, the degree on their resume would not exist without it. So the next time the debate arises between another episode of “Stranger Things” or getting sleep, make the healthy choice and go to bed.

Photo provided by mrehan via flickr