How to Not Be a Zombie
Eating healthy foods and getting enough rest helps you stay strong, and awake in social studies or math.
Have you ever felt tired even after breakfast? That’s me. I can eat 10 pancakes and 20 strawberries and still, at school I want to pass out. What you eat and how much you sleep can change how your body feels every day.
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” That is a famous quote by Benjamin Franklin. I really like that quote, but I can’t seem to actually follow it. I always sleep so late playing video games, or reading. I’m sure you all still do this. In this article, I am going to talk about how you can eat healthy, sleep well, and turn off distractions.
Let’s start by listing foods that give you lots of protein. Protein helps build up the body. It makes up bones, cartilage, muscle, blood, skin, enzymes, hormones, and vitamins. It’s needed for growth and development, repairs and builds cells and tissue such as muscle, and plays an important role in body processes such as blood clotting, fluid balance, and the immune response. Ok, you’re probably about to close the tab on this article, because of this boring complicated jargon, but keep reading, because this might help you in PE, because who wants to run a full mile while half asleep? Get that D+ in social studies out of here, by not falling asleep in class when the teacher brings out the textbook. According to Harvard Medical School, some examples of foods that have a good amount of protein are chickpeas, beans, walnuts, chicken and turkey, salmon, and tuna.
Next, let’s talk about getting enough sleep. I know a lot of older kids struggle with getting enough sleep for many reasons, but after you read this article, I’m sure you will have a great time sleeping. Sleep doctors recommend a lot of measures to help adults and children achieve enough sleep. In general, all of these approaches are intended to help with relaxation as the desired sleep time approaches, to maintain a comfortable sleep environment, and to encourage a healthful balance of nutrition and exercise.
But how much sleep do I need? Harvard Health states that the answer varies based on the individual. Guidelines recommend that adults ages 18 to 60 get at least seven hours of sleep a night. As people age, this number can change. Those ages 61 to 64 need seven to nine hours, and those ages 65 and older need seven to eight hours. Tweens, school-age children (ages 6 to 12) need nine to 12 hours. But teenagers need eight to 10 hours of sleep. But again, these are estimates, and some people may require more or less. If you’re thinking, what if I want to watch TV and doomscroll until 2 AM? Then read this. If you’re trying to make the varsity volleyball team, you can’t just show up to practice all lazy and droopy. There will go your name on the team! Gone!
Speaking of sleep disruption, what’s your screentime? Don’t lie! Pediatrician Michael Rich, MD helps children and parents manage their online behavior in this crazy digital landscape. “It’s not how long we’re using screens that really matters; it’s how we’re using them and what’s happening in our brains in response. Boredom is the space in which creativity and imagination happen,” he says.
Whether we like it or not, digital devices are everywhere. Some of us can barely put them down, even when we’re with family, guests, and friends. While these devices can help you learn and study, they can also ruin everything from sleep to creativity. “So even if they stay awake in algebra class,” Rich says, “they may not remember what happened in class yesterday.”
So, now you know. It’s not just about how many pancakes you can eat, or what time you set your alarm. It’s really about eating the right and healthy foods, resting your brain, and knowing when to finally hit the power button. And video games will still be there tomorrow, but your brain needs sleep so you can actually learn and be creative.
