No one expects mothers to get a ton of sleep when they have a newborn at home, but many moms believe that we'll get more sleep when the kids are older. However, a study found that mothers sleep duration and satisfaction don’t recover to pre-pregnancy until the first child is in first grade.
Mothers of older children often feel like they shouldn't be as tired as they are since they no longer have a baby at home, but this study proves that sleep deprivation doesn't end when your child starts sleeping in a big kid bed.
Another study found that more than half of teachers reported feeling drowsy during school hours and almost half slept six hours or less a night.
The majority of teachers don’t stop working at the end of the school day. Classes may end at 3 pm, but teachers work well into the night.
Needless to say teacher moms are exhausted.
Here are 11 ways that being sleep deprived may be effecting you:
Memory Issues – During sleep, your brain forms connections that help you process and remember new information. A lack of sleep can negatively impact both short and long term memory. Sleep deprivation leaves your brain exhausted, so it can’t perform its duties as well.
Mood Changes – Sleep deprivation can make you moody, emotional and quick tempered. Chronic sleep deprivation can affect your mood and lead to anxiety or depression. You may feel more impatient or prone to mood swings.
Weakened Immunity – Too little sleep weakens your immune system’s defense against viruses like those that cause the common cold or the flu. You’re more likely to get sick when exposed to these germs. Sleep deprivation prevents your immune system from building up its forces. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body may not be able to fend off invaders, and it may also take you longer to recover from illness.
Risk For Diabetes – A lack of sleep affects your body’s release of insulin, a blood sugar-lowering hormone. People who don’t get enough sleep have higher blood sugar levels and an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.
Low Sex Drive – People who don’t get enough sleep often have a lower libido.
Trouble with Thinking and Concentration – Your concentration, creativity and problem solving skills aren’t what they should be when you don’t get enough rest. You may also find it more difficult to concentrate or learn new things.
Accidents – Being drowsy during the day can increase your risk for car accidents and injuries from other causes.
High Blood Pressure – If you sleep less than five hours a night, your risk for high blood pressure increases. Sleep affects processes that keep your heart and blood vessels healthy, including your blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation levels.
Weight Gain – With sleep deprivation, the chemicals that signal to your brain that you are full are off balance. As a result, you’re more likely to overindulge even when you’ve had enough to eat. A lack of sleep can also make you feel too tired to exercise. Over time, reduced physical activity can make you gain weight because you’re not burning enough calories and building muscle mass.
Risk of Heart Disease – Sleep deprivation may lead to increased blood pressure and higher levels of chemicals linked to inflammation, both of which play roles in heart disease.
Poor Balance – Lack of sleep can affect your balance and coordination, making you more prone to falls and other physical accidents.
While the amount of work a teacher mom faces will not decrease any time soon, there are steps you can take to sleep better.
Here are steps you can do to help you get a better night’s rest:
Avoid Caffeine - It can be tempting to drink that coffee at night to help you focus on grading, but avoid caffeine before bed as it disrupts sleep.
Regular Sleep Schedule - Stick to a regular sleep schedule. You make your children and students follow a class schedule, so lead by example.
Relax Before Bed - It can be overwhelming thinking of all the young futures you're shaping, so to avoid worrying keeping you up at night, try a warm bath (a personal favorite) before bed to relax. If you don't already do so, staying organized with a weekly planner can help manage your workload so it doesn't keep you up as much at night.
One day your kids will sleep through the night, but it’s okay to ask for help until that day comes. After your child sleeps through the night, it’s still okay to ask for help.