Getting Enough Sleep

March 24, 2021 Learning Techniques, Private Tutoring, Raising Awareness 0

We’ve all been told about the importance of sleep and how it affects our performance. And we’ve probably all seen what a bad night’s sleep can do to us the next day. But how important is it really that we make sure we get enough sleep?

How much sleep you should get

You’ve probably heard that the average person should get 8 hours of sleep each night. But the ideal amount of sleep one should get (especially for younger kids) is much higher than that. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children between the ages of 6-12 should get anywhere from 9-12 hours of sleep, and teenagers between the ages of 13-18 should get anywhere from 8-10 hours of sleep.

The harm of not getting enough sleep

On average, students are not getting the recommended amount of sleep. Based on a study done on middle schoolers, 6 out of 10 were not getting enough sleep during the week, and on a study done on high schoolers that number was even higher (7 out of 10).

Sleep is essential when it comes to how kids think. Not getting sufficient sleep can make the part of the brain that handles organization and problem-solving weaker. Not getting sufficient sleep can also affect students’ focus in class, causing them to zone out or have difficulty concentrating. This is because without enough sleep, brain waves can fall into sleep-like patterns even while awake. This same thing can affect a student’s ability to retain information or recall things they’ve already learned.

All of these things could seriously affect a child’s performance in school if they aren’t getting sufficient sleep on a regular basis.

Why our bodies need sleep

Our bodies have a natural internal clock because it needs rest in order to function at its best. Once it starts to get late our bodies get tired, telling us it’s time for bed. We should listen to our bodies and not force ourselves to stay up and cram for that test. Chances are, you aren’t doing your best studying that late at night anyway, and not getting sufficient sleep is the worst thing you can do the night before a test.

Getting plenty of sleep is the easiest way to improve a student’s performance in school. Sleep is the body’s natural way of recharging, helping to keep them alert while in class. Getting sufficient sleep also has the added benefits of keeping your body healthy and fighting illness. Studies show that children who get less sleep have a greater risk of obesity, diabetes, poor mental health, and behavioral problems.

How to make sure you’re getting enough sleep

It may seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day, and cutting sleep is the easiest thing to do, but truthfully getting the recommended hours of sleep should be our greatest priority. Making sure you get enough sleep requires careful planning throughout the day. Like mentioned earlier, cramming for a big test the night before is not the best method. Plan your schedule out at the start of every week, and make sure that you’re planning for your nights to end early enough so you can get the necessary sleep time in.

Our electronics also have an ability to keep us up late even after we’ve tried to close our eyes and go to bed. If you’re someone who likes to watch tv or be on your phone right before bed, try finding a good book and read a few pages of that each night instead. It’s a small change but your body will thank you for it.

Finally, the best thing you can do is just stick to a regular sleep schedule. Anyone who stays up all night or sleeps in too late one morning notices how it affects them the next night. Try to keep relatively the same sleep schedule, even on the weekends.

Getting enough sleep is a great way to help your child perform their best, but if you notice they’re still struggling, consider one-on-one tutoring with Miles Smart Tutoring. We provide top-rated tutors that are skilled in teaching over 40 subjects. Call today to get started: (813) 328-3036.

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