World Sleep Day

RISE Up and Shine

World Sleep Day is coming around on Friday 13th March 2026. It is a great chance to highlight how important good sleep habits are for Our students. With schoolwork, sports, pressures and social events, it can be tough to get enough rest. Getting the right amount of sleep is vital for your brain to work well, your emotions to stay in check, and your overall health to stay strong.

Lack of sleep can affect our physical and our mental health. By taking these steps below, you’re helping your body to do all of the repair work, whilst you sleep, to help you function and cope with the next day.

As Wellbeing Lead, here are of my top tips to help you get better sleep:

1. Stick to a Sleep Schedule: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps set your body's internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up naturally.

2. Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine: Doing calming activities before bed can help you relax. You might read a book, listen to chilled music, or do some mindfulness exercises to unwind. Enjoying a nice warm caffeine free drink, doing your skincare and a warm bath can really help to lull your body into sleep mode.

3. Limit Screen Time: Put away phones, tablets, and computers at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light from screens can mess with the hormone melatonin, which helps you sleep. Your brain, like your phone, needs to shut down and recharge for the next day.

4. Power Naps: After a long day at school, power down for 20-40 minutes to refresh. This can also help you sleep longer, later, as long as you don’t nap over that time.

5. Your bedroom is your haven: Try not to ‘hang out’ in bed: Our beds should be a calm, sacred space associated with peaceful activities, conducive to rest. Try not to play on beds, or worse, work hunched over the laptop! We should associate our beds with a place of rest and recuperation, not with stress or energised activities.

6. Watch that temperature: Use comfortable cotton sheets and keep the room as cool as you can to help you have a calm and decent night’s sleep.

7. Relaxing sounds only: Nature sounds such as birds, waves, or even whales. Don’t listen to loud and heavy music as this can awaken your brain.

By following these tips, you can improve your school performance, feel better emotionally, and stay healthier overall. Good sleep sets you up for a balanced and successful life and helps you to have the strength to be more resilient in the challenges that you may face during the day. You’ve got this!

Mrs Ridley