What Impact Does a Lack of Sleep Have?
Watch the video to explore the impacts that a lack of sleep can have on your physical and mental wellbeing.
Watch this video to discover why sleep is so essential for positive mental and physical health . . .
The importance of sleep for teachers and other school staff can't be underestimated, but nor can it be precisely explained. Sleep research pioneer Allan Rechtschaffen, famously stated, "If sleep does not serve an absolutely vital function, then it is the biggest mistake the evolutionary process has ever made."
Sleep is a fundamental process that affects all aspects of our lives, including our health, mood, cognitive performance, and well-being. Despite decades of research, the exact function of sleep remains a mystery, and it is unclear why we spend almost a third of our lives sleeping. However, what is clear is that sleep is essential for our survival and overall health, and lack of sleep can have serious consequences.
Researchers have discovered that sleep plays multiple roles in biological changes at the molecular, cellular, and network levels. During sleep, the body goes through a restorative process that helps it repair and recover from the day's activities. This physical recuperation is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, repairing damaged tissues, and regulating hormones. The short-term consequences of lack of sleep include feeling sluggish, impaired motor performance, and reduced alertness. In the long term, chronic sleep deprivation can weaken the immune system, increase the risk of some diseases, and even lead to premature death.
Most researchers agree on two vital functions:
Sleep allows the body to physically recuperate
REM sleep appears essential to cognitive functions
REM sleep is a crucial phase of the sleep cycle, which occurs several times throughout the night. During REM sleep, the brain becomes highly active, and there is an increase in brain wave activity. This phase is essential for cognitive functions, such as memory consolidation, learning, and problem-solving. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can impair cognitive performance, reduce attention, and interfere with decision-making processes.
It is believed that deep, REM sleep is an integral factor in the brain's ability to process information. The neurophysiological process responsible for forming new connections between neurons occurs during REM sleep. This suggests a connection between deep, REM sleep, and the ability to learn, store, and retrieve new information. In addition, REM sleep may play a critical role in emotional regulation, and its disruption has been linked to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In conclusion, sleep is an essential process that is vital for our overall health and well-being. While the exact function of sleep remains unclear, it is clear that it plays a critical role in physical and cognitive functions. Teachers and other school staff who get sufficient sleep are likely to perform better, feel more alert, and have better overall health. Therefore, it is important for individuals to prioritise their sleep and adopt healthy sleep habits to ensure they get the rest they need.
Why not explore some of our other videos and guides on sleep by searching for 'Sleep' in your wellbeing toolkit?
Watch the video to explore the impacts that a lack of sleep can have on your physical and mental wellbeing.
Although the terms are often interchanged poor mental health is not the same as having a mental illness. Watch this video to explore what mental illness actually is and how it differs from mental health.
It can be difficult to know how to start a conversation with a colleague or someone you manage about their mental health. Watch this video to discover 10 useful tips to help.
Watch the video to explore when a low mood may be a normal response life stressors and discover the evolutionary purpose of low moods.
Anxiety can both be a normal reaction to the stressors of day-to-day life, or a sign of a mental health illness. Watch this video to learn how to tell when anxiety is 'normal'.
What exactly is mental health and how does it differ from mental illness? Watch this video to find out.
Listening is a key skill for leading in an empathic way which supports employee wellbeing but there are many things that get in the way of listening effectively. Explore 7 of them in this video.
Recent UK-wide statistics on the wellbeing of school staff indicate the importance of feeling appreciated and supported in the workplace. Watch this video to discover why creating a culture of appreciation is important.
Watch this video to discover why sleep is so essential for positive mental and physical health.
Discover some of the most common sleep problems in this useful video.
Discover some top tips for improving sleep in this helpful video.
Watch this video to explore the Interest Based Rational Approach to "principled negotiation" which encourages parties to use joint problem solving techniques, rather than positional bargaining.
Relaxation is crucial for positive mental health but how can it be achieved amidst immense pressure? Watch this video to hear 5 top tips.
Watch the video to explore some quick tips for cultivating and maintaining a positive mindset.
In this video we explore The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80:20 rule and how this can help you manage your workload.
Delegation is a key skill for leaders, but what limits does it have? Watch this video to explore if authority, responsibility, and accountability can be delegated.
We often about the importance of being empathetic, but what exactly is empathy, and why is it important? Watch this video to find out and discover the 5 elements of empathy identified by Daniel Goleman.
Delegation is a key skill for any leader. In this video, we explore what delegation actually means, and then explore some strategies to help you delegate tasks appropriately.
Developing healthy coping strategies can help you take charge of and improve your day-to-day well-being. Watch this video to discover some tips for developing them.
What difference could intentionally choosing your attitude make to your wellbeing? Watch this video to discover the inspiring story of Debra Searle and how you can apply the same mental strategies she used to row across the Atlantic to your...
In this video we explore the chunking strategy for workload management.
We often talk of feeling 'anxious' but is there a difference between this and clinical anxiety? Watch this video to find out.
In this video we explore what coping strategies are and why we create them.
One way in which you can manage stress is to adapt the stressor. Watch the video to find out some tips on how you can do this.
Ill health is one of the many risk factors that could cause an increase in stress. Watch this video to discover some things you can do to help if you are suffering from a period of ill health.
One way to manage stressors is to try to alter them. Watch this video to discover some tips to help you do this.
One way to manage your stressors it to try and avoid them. Watch the video to discover some tips on how to do this.
Watch this video to explore how pressure can impact your performance, and the difference between stretch, strain, and crisis.
We use the term 'stressed' all the time, but what exactly is stress? Watch this video to learn more.
Watch the video to explore the differences between pressure and stress, and how pressure can lead to stress.
Trust sits at the core of relationships, and it can have a significant impact on your and your colleagues wellbeing. But what exactly is trust? Watch this video to find out.
Effective listening is a key element of leading in an empathetic way which supports staff wellbeing. Watch this video to discover some steps you can take to improve your listening skills.
In this video, we share some highlights from Oliver Bruce's book 'Just for the ASKing!' focused around the importance of visibility for school leaders.
Watch this video to discover some common signs that you are drinking alcohol, as an unhealthy coping strategy.
Watch this video to explore how you can use a technique called Thinking Clearly Under Pressure or TCUP remain calm, even under pressure.
Watch this video to explore the Interest Based Relational Approach (IBRA) to managing conflict and negotiation, which was developed by Roger Fisher and William Rory in their 1981 book, 'Getting to yes, negotiating agreement without giving in.'
