As my husband Tim and I get ready to send our older daughter back to college, we are, like countless parents across the country, trying to cram in as much advice to her in the next week as we possibly can. But if I could only pick just a few critical things to talk about with her, I would put Drowsy Driving on that short list.
Teenagers have been shown to be a significant part of the population that suffers fatalities and physical injury due to drowsy driving. Many of them do not know that drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Young adults also do not traditionally place sleep at the top of their priorities yet have a higher requirement for sleep than adults. On an average, they need 8-9 hours of restful sleep a night to function well.
If you haven’t already, please talk to your children that are driving about the importance of getting enough sleep and about the dangers of drowsy driving. We as parents must be role models by practicing what we preach. So this may be a reminder to ourselves to look at our own sleep habits and not get behind the wheel if we feel fatigued or excessively tired.
We all deserve to live an optimal life.
Sleep is a fundamental pillar that supports that endevour.
Sleep is a fundamental pillar that supports that endevour.
Putting our sleep needs first is an act of self love and self care.
Until next time,
Be well, Do well, Live well
Sunita
