By:Femi-Adeniyi  Joshua 

Every student in the University of Ibadan is familiar with the slang ‘TDB’, which simply means reading till day break.Pulling all nighters, especially ahead of crucial examination assessments, might feel like a necessity in a tertiary institution like ours. Nevertheless, sacrificing sleep does more harm than good to ones’ mental health.Amidst cramming for tests or exams or trying to complete assignments, or even trying to manage a busy social life, you must consider prioritizing your sleep as it is integral to the proper functioning of your mind and body system.

Experts recommend between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, yet the recommendation ,as instructive as it is,  is not embedded in the daily lives of a number of tertiary institution students. The problem of inadequate sleep is not a new phenomenon. Students have for a long time gone to extremes just to stay up at night without sleep.

This is usually done without recourse as to what it does to their bodies as they are only concerned with measuring their productivity by how late they stayed up.Surviving on coffee and energy drinks, they become little more than walking zombies and are usually tired and unable to focus in classes. What many don’t realize is that lack of sleep doesn’t just make them tired, it also quietly undermines their academic performance, physical health, and their mental, social and emotional wellbeing.

Sleep is not merely a resting period or downtime, but a period where active work is done by the brain and body. While you rest, your mind stores memories and processes information.This process helps the brain to internalize all that you have learnt throughout the day. That is why students who prioritize sleep tend to outperform those who don’t. They recall information more clearly, stay focused longer, and handle problem solving with greater ease. In contrast, skipping sleep for a ‘TDB’ session often backfires, leaving you groggy and forgetful when you most need to perform. Even a short nap between classes can sharpen concentration and restore alertness in ways that extra caffeine can’t match.

The benefits of proper sleep extend far beyond academics. University life is physically demanding, with students having to rush between lectures, laboratory practicals, part time jobs(if they are working), and club meetings.Quality sleep is the body’s most reliable source of revigoration. During the night, your immune system releases proteins that help fight off infections and repair cellular damage. Students who sleep well get sick less often, while those who choose to deny themselves of sleep are far more likely to succumb to infections.

Sleep also regulates appetite and metabolism. It balances the hormones that tell you when you’re hungry and when you’re full. Without enough rest, late night cravings intensify, and stress eating becomes harder to resist. It’s no coincidence that students pulling long nights often consume a lot of junk food and energy drinks. Over time, this can contribute not just to weight gain but also to more serious health problems like diabetes. Even an extra hour of nightly sleep can reduce these risks while leaving you more energized during the day.

Equally important is sleep’s effect on mental health. University can be an emotional rollercoaster. In this environment, sleep acts as a natural buffer against stress. Well rested students generally have lower levels of anxiety, more stable moods, and greater resilience when things go wrong. Without sleep, however, minor setbacks can feel overwhelming. Missing a bus, receiving a disappointing grade, or having a disagreement with a roommate all seem harder to handle when you’re deprived of sleep.

Asides making you irritable; prolonged sleep deprivation raises your risk of developing more serious issues such as depression.For many students, the temptation to sacrifice rest stems from the belief that staying up longer means getting more done. But in reality, the opposite is true. Sleep and productivity go hand in hand. Instead of slugging through the day while being fatigued, well rested students are sharper, more creative, and less prone to mistakes. This applies in the classroom, during exams, in group projects, and even in extracurricular activities.How can students realistically improve their sleep in the middle of such demanding schedules, one might ask.

The good news is that it doesn’t require dramatic changes. Sticking to a consistent sleep routine with established bedtime and wakeup times can help regulate your body’s internal sleep clock. Creating a simple pre-sleep ritual, like reading novels or stretching before bed, will signal to your body that it’s time to rest.

Unplugging from screens at least 30 minutes before sleep also makes a difference, since blue light from phones and laptop screens interferes with the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep.Small daily adjustments like avoiding caffeine late in the day, or even using earplugs in noisy environments can also improve sleep quality.

Ultimately, sleep goes far beyond closing your eyes. It’s an investment in your health, academic success, and long term happiness. For students, sleep is more than just self care. The next time you’re tempted to trade sleep for one more hour of study, remember that rest might actually be the smartest study tool you have. In the race to succeed, sometimes the best move is simply to sleep.