Students prioritize studying over healthy night of sleep

A universal constant on college campuses across the nation is that students are pulling all-nighters and prioritizing grades over a healthy night of sleep. From engineering to musical performance majors, students are notorious for procrastinating and studying into the late hours of the night in an attempt to absorb more information. 

Is this really beneficial, or is it further damaging students’ academic success?

An article from the University of British Columbia suggests night studying can be productive when not relied on consistently. Choices like getting plenty of sleep the night before, avoiding caffeine and finding a quiet, brightly-lit location can reduce strain on your mental and physical wellbeing. 

Additionally, finding a study spot outside of your home or dorm room can boost your efficiency. According to the article, working at a “proper desk with a chair as far away from your bed as possible” can increase your alertness.

Looking at Kansas State’s campus, there are only a few spots for studying late into the night. Hale Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays. The College of Business building is only open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and closes at 5 p.m. on Fridays. The College of Engineering building, however, is open 24 hours each day. 

These halls can usually be found with students glued to their work, and empty cans of energy drinks surrounding them. These late night study spots are valued by students, but with the combination of blue light rays and a lack of sleep, students are less likely to absorb the information before them. 

With finals looming and the end of the semester coming to a close, students must ask themselves what is more important to them: sleep or their GPA.