How Can You Help Your Teen Sleep Better?
You may have noticed that your teen is frequently tired of late, particularly now that school has begun. Most likely they are not getting enough sleep. Without ample restorative sleep, their productivity and focus will not be up to par.
Teenagers need to sleep at least 8 to 10 hours every night, but only 15% actually meet that requirement.
How can you help them to sleep better?
Limit Gadget Time – This is not to say that you should ban gadgets and all other electronic devices. Technology is a big part of our everyday lives – adults and children alike.
However, we all know that going online can be addicting. Your teen’s few minutes of scrolling before sleep could potentially turn into hours. Gadgets emit a blue light that inhibits the release of Melatonin – an essential hormone that regulates a person’s sleep-wake cycle. The less Melatonin your body has, the harder it is to sleep.
We depend on electronic devices for a lot of things. Their gadgets also serve as great supplements to learning. Having screen time is okay as long as the usage is regulated. Limit technology exposure most especially hours leading up to your teen’s bedtime.
Change the Mattress –The mattress your teen sleeps on may be the one they have used even as a child. Mattresses are meant to be changed every 7 to 10 years. The reason being, it will naturally sag through the years which results in compromised sleep. Additionally, it can become a breeding ground for allergens, dust mites, etc. that can wreak havoc on health.
Replacing a mattress can be a time consuming and confusing decision, given the number of choices out there. However, once you do our homework, it’s good to know that convenient purchasing methods are available. You don’t even have to visit a store anymore. You may get a mattress in a box or you can buy a mattress online.
Don’t Overschedule – As parents, we want to support our teens to pursue their passions. However, we should also be on the lookout that they’re not spreading themselves too thin. They may be pushing for more hours of the day to accomplish both homework and the demands of extracurricular activities. But, who can be productive when they are lethargic? Help them plan their schedules and not feel pressured to take on too much. Make sure that sleep is still the priority. They should be doing activities around sleep time and not the other way around.
Teach Self-Care – Sleep is important for everyone, especially for busy teens. They need it for growth, and it boosts immunity. So, teach them the importance of practicing diligent self-care, particularly if they are inclined to regularly burn the midnight oil. The older they get, the more demands that both school and life will ask of them, so the sooner they learn the power of a regular sleep schedule as part of a healthy routine, the better.
It’s important to remember that sleep needs to be a high priority. As parents, as long as your teen is living under your roof, you can help them change their habits, and hopefully these tips can help you empower them to get the good night’s sleep they deserve.
Tags: mattress, teen sleep
