Winter is over and although it’s only October, it is a very busy time of year and before we know it summer will be here. First, however, we have to get through all the end of year stress, exams, preparations for Christmas and holidays and for many families out there the dreaded HSC.
As it is such a busy time of year, we all need to remember to look after ourselves, keep healthy, eat well and most importantly, get enough sleep. This is something that is very important for our children as well, particularly those in year 12 who are in the midst of studying for their exams.
We all know there is nothing better than a good night’s sleep, we feel better, we look better and we are less likely to be grumpy fire-breathing dragons to our nearest and dearest. But why else is sleep important for us and our children and particularly at this time of year?
The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:
- Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
- Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
- Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
- Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat. - Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.
A lot of research has also been undertaken to determine the effects of sleep on children and students. In an article published on the Huffington Post website called ’11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep’, there is evidence to suggest that how we sleep affects the brain and for children, a lack of sleep can result in ADHD-like symptoms in kids. A 2009 study in the journal Pediatrics found that children ages seven and eight who got less than about eight hours of sleep a night were more likely to be hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive. The article quotes Dr Rapoport, Managing Director of the NYU Sleep Disorders Program who says “Kids don’t react the same way to sleep deprivation as adults do,” he adds. “Whereas adults get sleepy, kids tend to get hyperactive.” (Huffington Post, 2011)
A recent article published in the Education Section of the Sydney Morning Herald Online warned that during the HSC time, students don’t look after their physical and mental health, with high levels of sleep deficiency, not eating well and not taking time out. The article provides some advice from Jay Giedd, a neuroscientist from the US National Institute of Mental Health in Australia who said “today’s adolescent “digital natives” need to learn to switch off, through meditation or yoga, mindfulness and even eating a good breakfast“. (SMH, 2012)
Resources:
Rachel Browne, 21st September, 2012 ‘Students swot upon sleeplessness.’ http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/students-swot-up-on-sleeplessness-20120920-269ch.html
Alyssa Sparacino, 2nd March, 2011 ’11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep’, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/sleep-health-benefits-_n_817803.html#s234464&title=Improve_Memory
Harvard Health, January 2006, ‘Importance of Sleep: Six reasons not to scrimp on sleep’,
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/importance_of_sleep_and_health