Why Sleep Matters In
Middle And High School

Sleeping is great, isn’t it? If you find it hard to resist the coziness of your bed, you aren’t alone. However, even though everyone loves sleep, most people feel like they don’t get as much as they want. In fact, if you don’t get enough sleep, especially when you’re in middle and high school, it’s more than just an inconvenience; it can actually pose health risks and consequences.

Once your head hits the pillow and you’ve fallen asleep, your body is using that rest time to heal your body and build your brain. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t have enough time to build up strength and intelligence. A lack of sleep can also lead to stress, which can cause health problems and impact your happiness and well-being. As you can see, sleep is important. It’s about more than just closing your eyes and having dreams. Sleep helps you grow and face each day with a positive attitude.

Focusing on getting enough sleep is also important for building healthy habits later in life. Ultimately, learning how to prioritize sleep while you’re in your teens, before you have total autonomy, is incredibly important. Having the maturity to leave a party early or put down your phone and get off the couch so you can get a full eight or nine hours of rest isn’t always easy. But if you make it a habit now, you’ll be much healthier and happier, plus you’ll have a better routine to follow for the rest of your life.

So what are some strategies for getting more sleep? Unlike other things that are mostly just a matter of willpower, you can turn sleep into one of your favorite activities by making sure your bed is incredibly comfortable. A cozy bed may be tough to get out of in the morning, but it’ll be a lot easier if you actually got plenty of sleep the night before. Think about how your bed feels. If you’re still sleeping on the same mattress you had when you were a young child, it might be time to invest in an age-appropriate model. While you’re updating your mattress size, you should upgrade its comfort level as well. If you aren’t sure yet what kind of mattress you like, try out a few different options. Some people like a firm mattress to sleep on, while others like to feel as if they’re sinking into a cloud. Figure out your preference and go from there.

It’s also important to make sure the bedding you put on top of your mattress looks and feels good, too. Get rid of your kiddie sheets and upgrade to something softer and more sophisticated. PBteen has a lot of different options, so you should be able to find the color and size that works best for you. If you pick out comfortable sheets that you really like, spending time asleep in bed will seem a lot more appealing.

You also want your bed to be warm enough to be comfortable, but not too warm. Think about your ideal temperature for sleeping. Little kids may not know yet whether they sleep hot or cold, but by the time you’re in middle school, sleep is a big enough part of your life that you know what you want. Get blankets in different weights so you can layer them on or take them off as needed to make your bed the perfect sleeping temperature.