The importance of sleep for the brain
Insufficient sleep negatively impacts your ability to carry out basic functions that could affect your work, driving, tasks around the home, and your engagement with others – namely your kids, partners, work colleagues and the wider community.
It can impact negatively on your creativity, productivity, judgement, and decision-making processes.
Here is how much sleep you need based on your age from the Australian Sleep Research Report:
- pre-schoolers need 10-13 hours of sleep
- school age (6-13) need 9-11 hours
- young adult needs 7-9 hours
- as an adult you need 7-9 hours
- as seniors you need 7-8 hours
The main organ that really needs sleep is the brain. While we sleep, the brain does a major clean-up of the days data and restores energy and supplies.
Tips to help you prioritise your sleep
- Develop a good sleep routine, ensure you go to sleep around the same time each night.
- Create a wind down plan to relax, turn the main lights down, take a warm shower, read a book and relax.
- Don’t use your mobile phones, or tablet before you go to bed. Switch on your night mode to make avoid blue light from mobiles or tablets a good hour before bed.
- Avoid caffeine close to bedtime in coffee, tea, also in colas and soft drinks.
- Make your sleep space dark, comfortable and around 17-19C.
- Also make sure you have a comfortable pillow!
Sleep well and look after your mental health and wellness this month on The Fathering Channel.
If you are struggling, call Lifeline on 131 114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. If children are struggling, they can call Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or Youth Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
We want to foster connection, sharing, and collaborating in this time of isolation and need. The Fathering Channel is an online community hub and a source of research-based advice, support and information. Tune in every Monday for Bruce’s weekly video – packed with fathering advice and tips.
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