“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.”
Most would agree with this old Irish proverb because they understand how vital sleep is to the overall quality of life (and who doesn’t like to laugh?). But did you know that approximately 1 in 3 adults has trouble sleeping? And a recent study shows that it’s even worse for teachers — a full 40% of teachers don’t get enough.
Survey says...
76% of teachers polled acknowledged feeling exhausted.
31% of teachers reported staying awake until 2 a.m. doing work at least once.
22% of teachers confessed to taking naps during their lunch breaks.
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to both your physical and mental health.
Poor sleep has immediate adverse effects on your hormones, brain function and exercise performance. It can cause weight gain because you tend to make poor food choices when you’re tired. And it can increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, in both adults and kids.
On the flip side, when you get enough sleep, you wake up refreshed. More sleep means improved mood, higher productivity and better memory. You just feel mentally and physically better.
“When you don’t get enough sleep, it affects your mood, your overall productivity, and your creativity. Be intentional about getting proper sleep.” — Synchronous Health Specialist Rosalind Spinks-Seay, LPC (trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia)
It’s obvious that sleep needs to become more of a priority for most people. The good news is there are some easy things you can do to improve the quantity and quality of your sleep.
Simple habits can improve your sleep
You might have heard the term “sleep hygiene.” That simply means you need to have some good habits during the day that will help you sleep well at night.
Here are some things you can do to help ensure better rest:
Loosen. Consider doing some stretches and breathing about an hour before bedtime. This can start the wind-down process, send oxygen to your blood, loosen the muscles and help you relax.
Limit. Limit the activity you do close to bedtime. Don’t check your phone, eat, drink or watch screens too close to bedtime. These activities can be stimulants for your brain and prevent you from falling asleep as quickly or deeply. Reserve your bed for sleep.
Schedule. Go to bed and wake up at similar times. This will create consistency in your circadian rhythm, a very healthy sleep habit.
What if your sleep is still terrible? This program is for you!
Maybe you’ve tried these sleep hygiene tips, and you’re still having trouble sleeping. The good news: Connect with Karla (via Synchronous Health) is offering further support with a comprehensive program designed to take a deeper dive into the underlying causes of your insomnia.
This 6-8-week Better Sleep program includes:
An individualized sleep assessment given by a trained provider
A personalized recommendation for improving the quality and quantity of your sleep as well as reducing sleep interference and aligning your biometric responses
Behavioral telehealth and app support based on your personal needs
Visit sync.health/mnps to sign up.
May is officially Better Sleep Month.
Sign up for this program and make 2021 your better sleep year.
