Importance of Good Sleep: 5 Reasons Why Sleeping Is Essential Before Exams

While most of us are restless and don’t get enough sleep before exams, it’s also important to prioritize.

Exam Dream: EThe exams are a period of acute stress, in fact, from the 8th standard to the end of graduation, there is a period of acute or chronic stress due to the number of exams that must be taken. Some students get very stressed and some are able to cope well. , stay healthy and perform well academically and professionally. So what is it that really helps the student reach that potential?

One of the most important factors is sleep. Most of us do not consider sleep as part of our health. In fact, it comes very low on the priority list. Most students pride themselves on not sleeping through exams and burning midnight oil. A large part of this has been created by a false belief system that states that the student should review the previous day’s portion of the exam or perhaps the student is not prepared and is trying to hold onto last minute preparations. Whatever the reason, a good night’s sleep not only the day before the exam but also 1 month before the exam is essential.

Reasons why sleep is important

The length of sleep depends on the age of the person with younger children requiring more sleep, but on average eight to nine hours of good restful sleep is required for optimal body function

1. Good sleep stabilizes the hormones in the body, namely the blood sugar level, insulin level, cholesterol, leptin, ghrelin, and cortisol levels in the body. These hormones are essential for the proper functioning of the body.
2. Lack of sleep suppresses leptin, or the satiety hormone, and activates ghrelin, the hunger hormone. As a result, the individual develops excessive hunger and cravings and has more sweet and salty foods leading to weight gain.
3. When blood sugar levels are not maintained and the insulin level rises, there is a higher incidence of developing prediabetes or diabetes at a young age, much of which may go undetected.
4. Lack of sleep increases the cortisol level, which causes inflammation in the body and leads to repeated infections and decreased immunity. Taking exams in a state of illness decreases performance and should be avoided
5. The increased cortisol level also interferes with cognition and memory, leading to poor memory, confusion, and forgetfulness. All this together creates anxiety, nervousness and stress creating a situation of fear in the mind of the student.

Therefore, sleep is a very important component of health. Good sleep is the moment when cell regeneration of the body occurs, helping all the organs and systems of the body to work in unison and in the best possible way. This creates a healthy body with a safe mental environment that is essential for growth, development and coping with all of life’s challenges, including exams.