Struggling to Study? How a Good Night’s Sleep Might be the Answer

Self-directed study can often be a challenge; from the motivation to get started to the frustration that comes when you find that nothing seems to be sinking in. Whether you are studying for an online course or are studying for final year University exams, there could be some simply ways in which you can lessen the struggle of studying just by adjusting your lifestyle.

During stressful exam periods, it can often seem like everything is getting on top of us. In a recent study conducted by the National Union of Students, over 71% of students worry about finances and how they are going to afford to eat day to day. This common worry alongside passing exams, making friends, considering what you want to do for the future and any other personal issues can often make studying even more difficult than it already is.

When it comes to studying, the first thing to ensure is that you have a dedicated study schedule. Plan when you are going to study and try to make it early in the morning, so you have the rest of the day and won’t feel stressed about having too little time. Don’t forget to also plan for breaks and spread out the time which you study so you don’t end up cramming the day before an exam!

Anyone who has been on a junk food binge or has gone all out for Christmas will know that some foods can weigh you down and make you feel lethargic. Eating healthy not only means that you will have more energy to study, but also means that you will be getting the nutrients and minerals your brain needs to function at its best. Regular exercise has also been shown by Harvard Medical School to improve thinking and memory skills.

Sometimes the best way to learn what you need to is by talking about it with other people. Whether it’s a study group or just a question and answer session with a friend, discussing the material not only helps you become more engaged with it but also highlights any points you might not understand fully or might struggle to remember.

According to Psychology Today, who investigated the relationship between study and sleep, found that if you sleep directly after studying then you are more likely to remember the information you’ve learnt. They also found that spreading out your study time improves the accuracy and speed of recall; therefore, making your studying more effective. Over the past decade we have learnt more and more about the effects of sleep on the brain, and how valuable it is for our brain to rest in order to function to the fullest. It has been proven that sleep helps to consolidate memories, as does exercise, but in fact you don’t experience the memory benefits of exercise unless you get a good night’s sleep as well.

There have also been countless studies done on the effects of sleep deprivation, and as predicted, these have a hugely negative effect on many areas of our lives. The different levels of sleep as outlined by the Harvard Business Review, assist us in different ways; from learning how to do something to remembering what we’ve learned. When deprived of any of the sleep levels by not getting enough sleep, the over-worked neurons in our brain are affected. This causes a lack of focus and concentration, a lack of ability to make sound decisions, mood swings and slower reaction times.

It’s one thing to know that you need a good night’s sleep, but what about actually getting one? With worries and thoughts whirring around in our heads, it can be tricky to drift off once our head hits the pillow.