During deep sleep, your brain is busy organizing and storing the information you learned that day. If you cut your sleep short to cram in one more chapter, you are actively preventing your brain from committing that information to long-term memory. Aim for 7-8 hours, especially during intense academic sessions. You will wake up sharper, process complex formulas faster, and retain much more. Takeaway: Never trade sleep for extra study time. Rest is when the learning actually happens.