Randy Ochoa, Staff Writer
All of us at some point have been told that exercise is good for you. In Phys Ed class, we are told to run around the gym until the fat kid of the class falls on his face. From the tender age of four, we are encouraged to run around and play with our friends. In later grades, we are taught how to play the mainstream sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc. When some students think of gym class, a gymnasium immediately pops into their minds. But what about diet? What about sleep?
The curriculum is 90% is devoted to running around.
But Phys Ed, as the name suggests, should put far greater emphasis on educating young people about their overall health. We live in an electronic age inhabited mostly by young people. Students have the right to be aware of the negative health effects that these devices have on their overall wellbeing.
In a study by our own Dr. Stuart Shanker, a philosopher and psychologist at York University, Shanker researched self regulation within young people. Long story short, he concludes that this generation suffers from sleep deprivation and that it may have an enormous impact on our self control. Playing videogames and prolonged exposure to bright lights from any electronic source can interfere with sleeping patterns. Without getting into the science behind it all, lack of sleep can affect our ability to self regulate our lifestyles. This is where diets tend to suffer because students will be more inclined to grab a bag of chips instead of an apple.
Quite simply: there are not as many young people outside as there use to be.
We must educate people more about diet and sleep because exercise and sports are already emphasised enough in Phys Ed class. To boot, most people are ignorant about what qualifies as a healthy diet. Many students are sleep deprived and do not understand how to balance their activities and the Phys Ed curriculum should educate students about the importance of getting the right amount sleep.
Unfortunately, many students find difficulty in the school/work balance during the year. Finding the time to exercise everyday for an hour becomes a challenging task. This is not to say that that exercise has become irrelevant, but necessary for a healthy lifestyle. But if students are educated enough about the benefits of a healthy diet and getting a good night's rest, than we can be sure to see a more vibrant and motivated student body.
Highlights from the Study
- Dr. Stuart Shanker teaches self-regulation to kids with temper tantrums, meltdowns, and lack of focus.
- Creating calm environments will help children emotionally connect with themselves and others.
- Electronics such as televisions, computers, and phones are not conducive to a calm environment.
- Physical health, specifically rest, are fundamental for maintaining the control systems in the brain.
- Too many young people are caught in the arousal cycle (Flight or fight stage) which causes anxiety. Anxiety is brought from lack of sleep.
Click here to listen to the study.
