As the new year arrives, many of us are thinking of self improvement. How can we be at our best in 2026? Whether you’re learning a new language or finally mastering high school algebra, there’s one aspect of learning that requires a laidback approach: sleep.

“ Sleep contributes directly to critical cognitive functions, such as learning and memory,” explains data-analytics-id=”inline-link” href=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=tomsguide-us-1957428864912754069&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2Fblog%2Freviewed-by%2Frebecca-robbins-phd-sleep-scientist%2F” target=”_blank” data-url=”https://ouraring.com/blog/reviewed-by/rebecca-robbins-phd-sleep-scientist/” referrerpolicy=”no-referrer-when-downgrade” rel=”sponsored noopener” data-hl-processed=”hawklinks” data-google-interstitial=”false” data-placeholder-url=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk-prefix&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2Fblog%2Freviewed-by%2Frebecca-robbins-phd-sleep-scientist%2F” data-merchant-name=”ŌURA” data-merchant-id=”306855″ data-merchant-network=”ImpactRad” data-merchant-url=”ouraring.com” data-mrf-recirculation=”inline-link”>Dr. Rebecca Robbins, Sleep Scientist and Sleep Expert to data-analytics-id=”inline-link” href=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=tomsguide-us-1460881407513194301&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2F” target=”_blank” data-url=”https://ouraring.com/” referrerpolicy=”no-referrer-when-downgrade” rel=”sponsored noopener” data-hl-processed=”hawklinks” data-google-interstitial=”false” data-placeholder-url=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk-prefix&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2F” data-merchant-name=”ŌURA” data-merchant-id=”306855″ data-merchant-network=”ImpactRad” data-merchant-url=”ouraring.com” data-mrf-recirculation=”inline-link”>Oura Ring.

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As the new year arrives, many of us are thinking of self improvement. How can we be at our best in 2026? Whether you’re learning a new language or finally mastering high school algebra, there’s one aspect of learning that requires a laidback approach: sleep.

“ Sleep contributes directly to critical cognitive functions, such as learning and memory,” explains data-analytics-id=”inline-link” href=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=tomsguide-us-1957428864912754069&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2Fblog%2Freviewed-by%2Frebecca-robbins-phd-sleep-scientist%2F” target=”_blank” data-url=”https://ouraring.com/blog/reviewed-by/rebecca-robbins-phd-sleep-scientist/” referrerpolicy=”no-referrer-when-downgrade” rel=”sponsored noopener” data-hl-processed=”hawklinks” data-google-interstitial=”false” data-placeholder-url=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk-prefix&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2Fblog%2Freviewed-by%2Frebecca-robbins-phd-sleep-scientist%2F” data-merchant-name=”ŌURA” data-merchant-id=”306855″ data-merchant-network=”ImpactRad” data-merchant-url=”ouraring.com” data-mrf-recirculation=”inline-link”>Dr. Rebecca Robbins, Sleep Scientist and Sleep Expert to data-analytics-id=”inline-link” href=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=tomsguide-us-1460881407513194301&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2F” target=”_blank” data-url=”https://ouraring.com/” referrerpolicy=”no-referrer-when-downgrade” rel=”sponsored noopener” data-hl-processed=”hawklinks” data-google-interstitial=”false” data-placeholder-url=”https://ouraring.sjv.io/c/221109/1408413/16760?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk-prefix&u=https%3A%2F%2Fouraring.com%2F” data-merchant-name=”ŌURA” data-merchant-id=”306855″ data-merchant-network=”ImpactRad” data-merchant-url=”ouraring.com” data-mrf-recirculation=”inline-link”>Oura Ring.

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