In the long human search for what sustains young minds through difficulty, researchers at UC Davis have arrived at an answer both ancient and overlooked: sleep. A study of children ages ten to thirteen found that sleep quality outweighed screen time, exercise, and diet in shaping how mental health struggles translate into academic and social outcomes — accounting for as much as a third of the link between anxiety and falling grades. The finding invites families and educators to reconsider where they place their attention, not toward more control, but toward more rest.