In past blogs, much has been written about children and the necessity of adequate sleep. How many of us, as parents, feel that we never get enough sleep? We are a sleep deprived nation! In fact, a National Sleep Foundation Poll in 2014 found that 45% of Americans slept either poorly or not enough. This Foundation recommends that adults sleep between 6-9 hours each night, but many of us are sleeping less than that.
For many working couples with children, there is no clear cut division between work time vs. family time. Social media eliminates the end of the so-called “workday.” Add to this burden the utterly important requirements of family time, including face to face communication, energy and patience with children. This mixture of work at home and out of the home can create overextended, anxious, and exhausted parents. It is then most difficult to unwind, relax, and fall asleep. Taking tablets and/or cell phones into bed or placing them close by on a night table further worsens our chance to sleep. They emit light wave patterns which stimulate areas of the brain that should be relaxing and shutting down at night. A television in the bedroom is not as close to the bed and is not as stimulating as a device close to parents’ eyes.
Why is sleep so important? The brain carries out tasks essential for good health such as repairing tissues, balancing hormones, and boosting the immune system during sleep hours. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with inflammation in the body, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
In recognizing the importance of sleep, we can strive to follow some tips on achieving good results. These include trying to sleep the same number of hours each night. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every night. You cannot catch up on sleep on the weekend. It’s also good to finish eating and exercising at least 3 hours before going to bed. Aim for a quiet, relaxing time before sleep, with low lighting in the bedroom. Turn off all computers and other digital devices. Keep the bedroom quiet, cool and dark.
Let’s concentrate in this new year on some healthier habits. Make sleep a priority for yourselves as parents, as well as for the rest of your family! In this way, you can count on getting up on the “right” side of the bed.
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.