Sleep and learning
Without quality sleep, we all risk problems with concentration, memory lapses or emotional issues – but for students, this can also affect their behaviour and academic achievement.
Young people’s brains develop at a remarkable pace. Ensuring they get the sleep they need allows their brains to process events, rest, refresh and be ready to do it all again the following day.
A lack of sleep results in slower processing of information, reduced focus in class, diminished creativity, worse sequential thinking when carrying out activities, and drowsiness – all of which make learning more difficult and less enjoyable.
Sleep patterns
According to sleepfoundation.org, teenagers should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night. However, many have much less than that for multiple reasons: using screens before bed or while in bed, sleep disorders, lack of routine or a general lack of importance placed on sleep at home.
World Sleep Day offers us all the opportunity to look at our sleep patterns and see whether there is more we can do to help ourselves and young people feel and live better during our waking hours.
Some things to consider for better sleep are setting a regular bedtime, creating a restful environment dedicated to sleeping (without screens!), being more physically active during the day and not eating too much late at night.
