Written By: Tim Johnson
Director of ESL Program + Business Instructor | Aston American University
Online students typically wake up early for their daytime jobs and then tend to the needs of their families when they get home. Free time that is available for studying is usually reserved for later in the evening when all job and personal responsibilities are first satisfied. Making time for studying and completing assignments are the reasons why many students attending universities forgo sleep. When everyone in the household is asleep with no distractions, isn’t this the most ideal time to study? Perhaps. But the later it gets and the less sleep you have — especially when you’ve been consistently staying up late — the effectiveness of your studying decreases.
Many students have a hard time balancing work, family, school and sleep. When I was in school, I learned to call it a night at around 11 PM because my work deteriorated quite rapidly after this time at night. In self-paced courses, such as courses that are offered by online universities, it is a little different when some courses do not have set dates or times to turn in assignments. However, you can still be affected by sleep deprivation and it will show in your work.
The average amount of sleep during the school week is about 5 hours. According to one source, 81% of all students do not get enough sleep. A “night owl,” a person who is habitually active or awake at night typically have lower grade point averages (GPA) than those who are well rested. The difference in GPA is quite significant too. “Night owls” have an average of a 2.65 GPA, whereas those who have adequate amounts of sleep have a 3.05 GPA average.
In light of this, it seems that student schedules and time management play a huge part on how university students sleep. Of course, it is recommended that university students exercise better planning and time management – and this includes planning for adequate sleep. Studies have recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep to maintain proper health and cognitive functions. Sleep deprivation can cause you to think poorly, leading to poor concentration and memory. When you have adequate sleep, your brain is able to process and store the new information you had learned that same day. Not only would sleep deprivation risk your grades, but it can put you at an increased risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes and becoming obese.
You might be surprised at how many universities put out information about sleep deprivation on its website for their students. Out of the long list of universities I came across in a search, one university said that in its campus survey, 25% of students said their academic performance was directly affected in a negative way due to lack of sleep.
Under enough pressure, many students may feel that they don’t have enough time for school. But remember this: Planning your days ahead of time to include matters of your family, personal, job, school, and sleep is very much attainable. Stick to your plan but remain flexible. A time management plan does not have to be final. Freely adjust your schedule to your needs as situations will often change, but remember to give yourself adequate amounts of rest.
