We are deep into Term 1 and many senior students are starting to feel the pinch of assignments across a number of subjects.
In the last newsletter we placed some tips and suggestions that could help families living with a Year 12 student; this week we share some ideas on what a good night's sleep can offer your daughter.
Many studies conducted have reported that a good night's sleep is just as important as regular exercise and a healthy diet. The research shows that poor sleep has negative effects on brain function. With the increase in screen time, many students are going to bed very late and as a result waking up feeling tired.
On top of this our bodies have a natural time keeping clock known as circadian rhythm. This affects your body by adjusting the hormone levels that tell you to stay awake and go to sleep. Natural sunlight and sleep help to keep this rhythm in check, daylight exposure can help increase your sleep and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. However, blue light (light emitted from devices) can have the opposite effect on your circadian rhythm. It reduces the amount of melatonin, which helps you relax and get deep sleep.
Waking at a consistent time can also help aid long term sleep quality. Again the circadian rhythm can be affected which in turn alters the amount of hormones released that signal your brain to sleep.
The bottom line – sleep plays a major role in your overall health. Senior students should be aiming for 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night.
Raymond Kropinski
Senior Years Coordinator
