Getting a good night’s sleep: a guide for teachers and education staff

Good quality sleep can set you up to face the challenges of everyday life. Yet these challenges can also create feelings of anxiety that get in the way of a good night’s sleep.

Our 2023 Teacher Wellbeing Index showed over half of teachers and education staff suffering with insomnia.

If this chimes with your experience, read on for tips to improve your sleep.

Sleep and why we need it

During sleep complex electrical activity occurs, supporting learning, ability to memorise, make logical decisions and choices. We need sleep to process thoughts and memories, support healthy brain tissue, keep our vital organs healthy and replenish our energy.

Many people claim they only need 5-6 hours of sleep each night to be productive. But science proves this is a myth. Ninety nine per cent of people do physically require the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep.

Routinely sleeping less than 6-7 hours demolishes your immune system. Sleep deficiency directly impacts the hormones that regulate our bodies, slowing everything down, making us less effective. It disrupts blood sugar levels, increases the hunger hormone and contributes to all mental health conditions.

Sleep will give you the strength, resilience and endurance that you need so much and help keep things in perspective.

So what can you do? How can you chase away the monkey mind and gain a restful night’s sleep to be ready for tomorrow’s classroom?

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