Court Fields, Wellington, students have returned to school this term after six months away from the classroom. 

It is the start of a new normal for students. Children will need to adjust to the new systems in place around the school as well as getting back into a routine. 

Experts say the sleep patterns of children have been negatively affected by lockdown. In many, stress is causing broken sleep. Furthermore, use of mobile phones late at night is contributing to late bed-times and sleeping in. Over the years sleep has been at the forefront of the media and lack of sleep has been proven to affect concentration, cause weight gain and have a negative effect on mental health. 

So, what can you do to take control of your body clock? Children of secondary school age should be achieving eight to nine hours’ sleep each night. If you struggle getting to sleep you may want to consider leaving any electronic devices in another room and don’t look at blue light up to an hour before bedtime. Studies prove that having a bed-time routine can relax you, allowing you to get to get to sleep quicker. A bed-time routine can include washing your face, reading and having a warm drink. 

Court Fields has a yoga page on Instagram called ‘courtfields_teenyoga’ which could be included in your daily routine to help calm your body. There are many great sources on the internet which you can use to find more ideas that work for you.

Jasmine Smith

Year 11 Court Fields School