Feel Good Friday - The importance of sleep

FACT

• Did you know 1/3 people do not have enough sleep?
• Adults should be getting 6 to 9 hours of quality sleep.
• Teenagers should be getting 9 to 10 hours of quality sleep.

We spend about a third of our lives asleep. Sleep is essential - It is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking and breathing, and is vital for maintaining good mental and physical health. Sleeping helps us to recover from mental as well as physical exertion.

5 Top tips for sleeping:

1. Sleep at regular times – Try to go to bed and get up at about the same time each day. It is easy to get in to bad habits.
2. Wind down and relax before bed – A warm bath or shower is a good way to relax your body.
3. Make your bedroom sleep friendly – Try to avoid clutter, light and technology.
4. Avoid using technology before bed – The backlit 'blue light' displays suppress melatonin production – the hormone that helps you sleep; the suppression of melatonin causes sleep disruption. Not using technology for 2 hours before bed will improve your sleep.
5. Relax - Thinking about sleep too much or trying to force yourself to sleep will only keep you awake. Learning how to relax both your body and mind instead will help you to get to sleep much more easily. There are many good podcasts and music that you can listen to help do this.

For further advice and support, there are many useful links on our website.

https://www.lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk/parents/support-for-parents-carers-and-students-during-coronavirus/health-advice-and-emotional-wellbeing-support-for-all