4 Ways getting a Good Night’s Sleep can make you an Even Better Teacher

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The New Year is a time for fresh beginnings and embracing change. It’s a great opportunity to wipe the slate clean and try to improve an area of our lives we aren’t entirely happy with, which is exactly why making New Year’s resolutions is a common tradition all around the world. Some of the most popular resolutions include: eating healthier (with a whopping 71% of people making this resolution), exercising more (with 65%) and starting a new hobby (at 26%).

Despite the various resolutions available, one simple change that often gets overlooked is getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep is vital to everyone’s wellbeing regardless of their profession or daily life, however it is especially important when it comes to teachers and teaching staff. You may tell your students that it is important they get enough rest in order to be in the right mind set for growth and development, so why is it that we don’t follow our own advice?

Whether or not you’ve made a New Year’s resolution (and stuck to it for the last three weeks), many of us see January as the perfect time to embrace change in our lives. With the month coming to an end, we want to continue to encourage positive changes throughout the year. So, we’ve written a list of ways in which getting a good night’s sleep can make you an even better teacher!

1. You could become more productive

While it may seem like a good idea to stay up a couple of hours later to finish off that marking that’s been stacking up, it could actually make it more difficult to be productive in the classroom the following day. Studies have shown that even a few hours of sleep lost can impair brain function. Not only can it affect your ability to concentrate but it can also reduce performance speed. It’s better to just get those extra hours of sleep and go to work in the morning ready to be the best teacher you can be!

2. You may be less likely to get ill

Getting a good night’s sleep can actually reduce your chances of catching the common cold. Even a small loss of sleep can result in your immune system not working as efficiently. It can be hard enough avoiding sickness when you work as a teacher as you come into contact with lots of people on a regular basis, and so it is important to prepare your body’s defences to protect yourself from getting ill. If you’re often feeling unwell, it may be time to hit the hay early!

3. You could become more receptive to social cues

In the same way lack of sleep affects productivity, it can also affect your ability to recognise social cues. Studies have found that sleep deprivation can lower our ability to process emotional information, and as a teacher your communication skills need to be sound in order to help all types of students to learn and develop their understanding of knowledge. By getting a few more hours of shut eye, your ability to successfully communicate with your class may be improved.

4. You may become more energetic

It’s pretty clear that getting a better night’s sleep can make you feel more alert and vibrant (given the idea of sleep = energy). However, combined with healthy eating and exercise your energy levels could become greater in 2020! Being a teacher requires your brain to be alert and responsive, ready to assist your students as they learn. By being more present in the classroom, you can help ensure that you are providing your class with the best standard of teaching that you can.

If you are a teacher or member of support staff looking for a change this 2020 then why not register with us today? With a range of fantastic roles available in several counties across England, we can help you to secure a position that fits with your specific needs.

References

https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/10-top-new-years-resolutions-for-success-happiness-in-2019.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8621064

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19139325

Alhola P, Polo-Kantola P. Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007;3(5):553–567.

J Sleep Res. 2014 Dec;23(6):657-663. doi: 10.1111/jsr.12192. Epub 2014 Aug 13.

Sleep. 2010 Mar;33(3):335-42.

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