Strict bedtime, not just a long sleep, is the key to success

GOING to bed at the same time each night is just as important for academic and business success as getting a long night’s sleep, a study has indicated.

Harvard University researchers found that the benefit of sleeping for seven to nine hours a night can be squandered by not going to sleep at a regular time.

Erratic patterns knock the body’s circadian rhythm out of sync in a similar way to a businessman’s jet lag.

The research also suggests that napping to top up on sleep missed while carousing or cramming for examinations does not help.

Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Harvard monitored 61 undergraduates for a month, measuring the quantity and timings of their sleep.

They found those who kept regular patterns performed better academically. The study authors believe irregular sleepers have a delayed circadian rhythm because they do not get enough natural light during the day and too much artificial light at night.