Wellness Tip of the Week 2.0
Volume 2, Issue #33
April 10, 2007
Huey Pearson
Cordova Park Elementary

Do You Get Enough Sleep?

Many people equate wellness with physical activity.  I tell people often that wellness is not just physical activity. It is about taking care of yourself.  Taking care of your mind, your body and your soul.  This week's tip has to do with sleep.  We all have different sleep habits and much has written lately about the lack of sleep that most of us are allowing for ourselves.  Lack of sleep contributes to physical, psychological and social problems.  I found some items in a newsletter from LifeTrek Coaching International that might benefit you and your students on the subject of sleeping.

• A lack of sleep disrupts the body's production of leptin and ghrelin, two hormones that control our sense of hunger.  Too little leptin and too much ghrelin leaves people feeling hungry all the time.
• A lack of sleep leads to problems such as lost work hours, slowed reaction time, reduced creativity, poor performance, traffic accidents, and irritability. 

After I read this material I stopped and thought about some of the students.  We live in a 24/7 world with late night TV and computer games.  Every so often I stop a class and ask them to tell me what time they went to bed last night and it is shocking!   

The article ended up with some suggestions for better sleeping.

1.  Priority-make regular, restful sleep an important part of your life

2.  Permission-give yourself permission to go to bed at an acceptable time

3.  Patterns-follow a regular pattern when you go to bed

4.  Pitch-Dark-try to sleep in total darkness

5.  Peaceful-turn off everything!

Do you get enough, restful sleep?

Kayaking on the Intercoastal Waterway in Pensacola, Florida

Listen, you can hear the breeze blowing!

Click here to find the Wellness Tip of the Week 2.0 homepage.