This fortnight we’re talking sleep! Sleep is in our conversations almost as much as the weather in Britain! We talk about it when we’re not getting it, we chat about it when we’re getting it but no wonder as good quality sleep is vital to our overall health and wellbeing.
Sleep supports our mental, emotional and physical health, it also helps to reduce stress and improve cognitive function. We all know how pants we feel after a rubbish sleep -can’t think as clearly as usual, mind not as sharp, more difficult to make good decisions, reach for sugar and caffeine to pep us up and if you’re in a spell of consecutive interrupted sleep cycles then it can feel like you are wading through treacle to get through your day! Sound familiar?
As sleep is a cornerstone of holistic health and definitely something we should be tending to as part of daily self-care management how can we improve our quality of sleep and feel better?
Here are some top tips:
- Have a consistent sleep and wake times (yes even at weekends!)
- Avoid eating heavy meals and drinking alcohol two to three hours before bed
- Create a calm, cool and dark environment as much as possible
- Get morning light – natural light exposure early in the day helps our circadian rhythms
- Manage your screen time – modern day technology is keeping us over stimulated when it is time to sleep. Try to avoid screens one to two hours before bed
- If your mind is on a loop of things you need to do – jot them down so you can rest your mind
- Have a wind down routine that helps your body and mind know it is time to sleep and rest
Sleep has a huge impact on our ability to function daily so think about your sleep hygiene and anything you can tweak to feel better! Poor sleep makes it very difficult to meet the high demands of a busy school environment. Sleep is a basic element of how we can build resilience and take care of ourselves.
Feel free to pop our HeadStart poster on your staff wellbeing boards as a reminder, as a conversation starter or as a prompt to check in with a colleague or yourself!
Published: March 8