MindMatters

The school year provides many challenges as you progress through High School and these challenges may create increased stress and anxiety, so it is important that they take the time to look after themselves.

One of the easiest ways to improve their well-being is to ensure they are getting enough sleep. Sleep is a natural and vital part of our daily routine. It helps our body and brain to restore energy.

It is also important for teenagers to get the ‘right’ amount of sleep for their physical health and emotional well-being. Research shows that a teenager should be getting around 8 – 10 hours of sleep per night whereas most teenagers are only getting 7 or 8 hours. (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/teenagers-and-sleep) 

When we don’t get enough sleep, various aspects of our life are impacted in a range of ways such as: reduced memory, difficulty in playing attention, increased moodiness and slower reaction times. This makes it difficult to learn new topics at school or to cope with the pressure of assessments and exams.

The best way to get the right amount of sleep is to develop a healthy sleep routine. Even by getting 30 minutes extra sleep than normal can help. Teenagers can try different strategies that work best for them. Getting enough sleep helps improve our mood and can change our thoughts and approach to each day. For some extra help, check out this link: http://au.reachout.com/getting-into-a-sleeping-routine