Read Lesson 1

Lesson Summary

Sleep is essential for our health and well-being, as it helps our bodies to repair, renew, and grow. During sleep, our bones, muscles, organs, and immune system are strengthened and refreshed. Our brains also benefit from sleep, as it improves our memory, mood, and energy levels. Sleep is an excellent opportunity for our minds to take a much- needed break from the stresses and worries of day-to-day life and to reset. There are two important parts of sleep: quality and quantity. Quality refers to how restful and restorative the sleep you get really is. Quantity simply refers to how much sleep you get. However, many factors can interfere with our sleep quality and quantity, such as scheduling, being overly sedentary, caffeine use, social media use, and more. To improve our sleep habits, we can move more during the day, set a bedtime, and avoid screen time at night.

As we all get older, it can seem that other things in our lives are more important than sleep. It is important to remember that sleep helps us to do virtually all of the other important things we want to do in our waking hours, so skipping it can only limit us. Many teens struggle with sleep deprivation for various reasons. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences such as increased risk of stroke, weight gain, high blood pressure, and mental health issues. Overall, to prioritize your health, you must prioritize your sleep.

Key Takeaways

• Our bodies and brains need sleep to function well, as it allows them to heal, grow, and refresh.
• Sleep also influences our mood, memory, and energy levels, and helps us maintain a healthy hormone balance.
• Our sleep can be disrupted by many things, such as media, caffeine, and social media. Managing these things through moderation allows us to enjoy better sleep quality and quantity.
• We can enhance our sleep habits by being more active during the day, having a regular bedtime, and limiting screen time at night.
• Lack of sleep can harm health in many ways, such as increasing their chances of stroke, weight gain, high blood pressure, mental health issues, and more.