However we look at it, studying can be such a snooze, literally and figuratively. Research has shown that students that aren’t getting enough sleep don’t do as well as those who do.
Even if you aren’t worried about your kid’s grades, lack of sleep stunts their ability to learn and develop, making studying harder than it needs to be.
Sometimes, school start times aren’t helping either, from primary school to college students struggling to stay awake after late nights of finishing homework.
As parents and guardians, we are responsible for our students’ performance being the best they can be. Time to wake up!
Quality of Sleep and Academic Performance
While students’ grades aren’t everything schooling should be about, it’s still important that they try as hard as they can. That’s why the impact of sleep shouldn’t be downplayed.
According to paediatric expert Dr Dawkins, adequate sleep improves kids’ physical and mental development and even behavioural growth.
Is it possible insufficient sleep decreases cognitive performance? Apparently, the amount of sleep kids and young adults get should be a primary concern.
Insufficient sleep isn’t automatically spending more time on your bed. Instead, you might try for improved and quality sleep. That’s where things get tricky for most parents.
Technology has improved a lot since we were last in school. With recent global events, Internet and device usage increased tenfold, teens are hooked on social media more than ever.
We’re not saying you should deprive your kids of their screentime but giving them too much might lead to sleep problems which eventually affects their mental health and academic standing. Yikes.
Luckily for you, we know a textbook trick for that. We’ll be talking about REM sleep, and class is in session!
Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep is a part of our bedtimes where the brain rest while memory and learning capabilities are enhanced. REM sleep facilitates dreaming while allowing the brain to relax and take stock.
Those aren’t the only perks good sleep offer. Allowing our brains to recuperate while preventing sleep disorders lowers the risk of health problems like heart diseases and even conditions like ADHD.
Does increasing kids’ hours of sleep alone contribute to their educational well-being?
That might be the easy alternative, but it’s not the only thing that needs doing. More sleep time is just one aspect of it.
Where does sleep patterns stand when it comes to education? Adolescents and even college students need all the REM sleep to handle school, so it pays to know more about it.
Being former students ourselves, we know how awesome waking up mentally and physically feels. Adequate sleep is the only way you can get that! The question now is, how do you exactly do that?
Sleep Schedule, Your Academic Success, and You
Sleep duration is not as all-inclusive as we think it to be.
Students need restful sleep if they want to excel, which doesn’t just mean sleeping longer.
Fortunately, years of perfecting sleeping products mean we have tonnes of notes lying around, and we’d love nothing more than to share!
Poor sleep quality leads not only to daytime sleepiness but significantly decreases a student’s performance in class, and if our experience serves us right, that sucks.
How can we sleep better?
Textbook tips would include sleeping longer, earlier bedtimes, and not staying up too late. Today, we’re delving into deeper territory. Let’s talk about our circadian rhythms for a minute.
Often referred to as our bodies’ internal clock, our circadian rhythm dictates the time of day when we sleep faster, longer, and better. Keeping it in sync should be a priority, but it might get wonky with everything a student needs to do every day.
While different factors contribute to the onset of sleep deprivation, an improperly calibrated circadian rhythm is a big culprit.
Sleep loss due to derailed internal clocks isn’t a lesson anyone can skip. That’s why we prepared some reviewers!
Healthy Sleep Habits 101
One peaceful snooze session isn’t enough to erase days of negligent bedtime hours. However, all isn’t lost. Better sleep hygiene is achievable, and here are some tips to help you get there!
1. Less Screen Time on School Nights
Today, mobile phones are indispensable. That’s a fact of life. We need to remember that too much time on these devices can heavily affect sleep patterns.
It is necessary to instil discipline into your kids, especially concerning their phones when there’s school tomorrow. We need to ensure that their eyes see less blue light, which negatively affects their circadian rhythm.
We all stayed awake under the sheets with a flashlight, trying to catch Pikachu or keeping up with Harry, Hermione, and Ron at one point in our lives. Our kids are no different. Remember, moderation is key!
2. Establish a Consistent Sleep Routine
Setting a regular bedtime is also an excellent way to get students ready for school!
By going to bed and waking up at regular times, their bodies are trained to sleep efficiently, which will result in better grades at the end of term.
A comprehensive sleep routine also includes habits we have before going to bed, like a hot, relaxing shower to calm the muscles and tea to help us relax faster.
This is a great tip for mums and dads too!
3. Good Sheets = Better Sleep
Sometimes, we’re sleeping on actual remedies. Literally.
We’re talking about investing in quality sheets. According to most sleep researchers, kids should get between eight to ten hours of sleep. That is an awful lot of time to spend on abrasive sheets.
You might want to try our bamboo bedding! These sheets come with tried and tested Ecosa craftsmanship blended with utmost comfort designed to get you sleeping faster, longer and better!
Put it to the Test
Ensuring that our studious kids are doing well is a significant and lifelong responsibility.
Aside from tutoring, we need to provide them with the tools and help necessary to achieve their utmost academic potential.
We hope that we made that undertaking a bit easier with these tips. Just remember, much like the students you care for need a break, so do their parents and guardians. Don’t be afraid to kick back and relax sometimes!