SLEEP ( 2 )
When you reach teenage years , the body’s internal biological clock is temporarily reset ( body’s CIRCADIAN – sur-kay-dee-un ) telling the body to sleep late and wake up late . More than 25% of high school students fall asleep in class because of lack of sleep at night ( National School Foundation – sleep in America poll ) . This results in poor grades and poor performance at sports/athletics . When you have to go to school/college , lack of sleep causes emotional troubles like feeling sadness and depression . There are signs that will tell you that you need more sleep :
- difficulty in waking up in the morning
- inability to concentrate
- falling asleep during class
- feeling moody / depressed
These are things that will help you sleep better :
- Be disciplined and set a time to go to sleep and to wake up – at weekends try to keep to this pattern , plus or minus one hour
- Excercise regularly – preferably in the late afternoon
- Avoid stimulants after 4pm like beverages , alcohol etc
- Avoid all-nighters – difficult for teenagers , but try
- relax your mind – stay away from bright lights like TV and computer screens one hour before bed-time and meditate or listen to soothing music
- Create the right sleeping conditions – darken the room , lower the heat , close the door to block out noise etc
- keep the room nicely ventilated – keep a small window open , even during winter
In adult hood seven and a half hour of sleep per day should be sufficient and the above mentioned points apply then as well . As you age the requirement for sleep reduces ; when this happens , try and go to bed early and rest .
SLEEP IS REST FOR YOUR BRAIN – GIVE IT
