HEALTH

The Science of

STUDY SLEEP Teachers and parents are forever banging on about the importance of a good night’s sleep – and none of us are getting enough of it. But did you know that getting sufficient snooze time can make you more energetic, even-tempered and help your exam performance? Rachael Fulton spoke to Dr Linda Russell, otherwise known as The Sleep Lady, for some top tips on getting seriously good shut-eye to improve your study time

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ith the exam period looming, catching a good night’s Zs has never been so important. Not only does great sleep improve your mood and concentration, it gives your brain time to digest all the information you’ve crammed in there, whether you’re memorising poetry or present subjunctive tenses. Energy drinks and late night cramming sessions might seem like the easiest way to maximise your revision time, but depriving yourself of a good night’s sleep can have a devastating effect on your exam performance. So how do you make sure you’re getting enough shut-eye to perform in this year’s exams? Sleep expert Dr Linda

Russell – known in the field as The Sleep Lady – offered us some advice to make sure Scotland’s students are rested and ready for this year’s exams.

Say NO To Screen time “The thing that has the worst impact on your sleep is screen time,” says sleep expert Dr Linda. “These days, going to bed without a laptop, phone or tablet is practically unheard of, but you shouldn’t take any screens to bed at all.” That’s right: no late-night Netflix binges, no tweeting from bed, no TV. If you’re serious about getting a good night’s sleep, Dr Linda recommends staying away from screens for a full hour before closing your eyes.

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22/02/2016 12:55