Hands up if you are guilty of using your phone in bed! Yep, me too. Unfortunately, that sneaky social media check at bedtime might be doing more harm than you thought. You might have heard by now that technology can cause problems with sleep habits. Let me explain how it can actually affect your sleep!
It can affect our body clock
When watching TV or using devices at night, the screen light can begin to affect your body. The photoreceptors (cells) in your eyes sense light and dark, so the light from your screen signals to the brain that it is still day and not time for bed. In time, this can affect your circadian rhythms (body clock) and cause your brain to misinterpret whether it should be awake or getting sleepy.
Using a device before bed (or worse, while in bed) can eventually lead to an adjustment of your body clock. That means you might not be getting sleepy until much later than normal. If you are still getting up early each day, the quality of sleep you get may begin to suffer.
It can keep your brain active
Have you ever had trouble falling asleep after playing games online, or after a group chat session with your besties? There’s a reason! These activities can stimulate your brain, which may leave it feeling wide awake. When your brain is in an activity state, it can take longer to shift back a gear and to recognise it’s time to sleep.
Technology can impact sleep-producing hormones
Another problem affecting sleep is caused by the type of light coming from screens. Tablets, TVs, computer screens and smartphones all emit blue light, which can reduce melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone your body makes to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. If your body doesn’t produce melatonin as normal, it may take longer to get to sleep. The amount of restorative sleep may also be affected.
Here’s something to think about. Blue light is so effective at keeping people awake, it has been used in factories and workplaces with regular night shifts. Studies have actually shown blue light can boost reaction times and our attention level. That’s why it really has no place in your bedroom when you’re trying to sleep!
Here’s how to sleep better without giving up all of your devices:
- Use night-time settings to reduce the blue light (this light has the biggest impact on receptors) on electronic devices.
- If you use an e-reader at night, change the settings so the page is black with white text (instead of the other way around).
- Try to have a regular bedtime and put your devices down before you start getting ready for bed.
- Set your phone to silent before you go to bed, or turn notifications off so your sleep isn’t disrupted during the night.
- Try to avoid using your phone or tablet in bed.
- Make sleep a priority in your day-to-day life. Sleep is important for your health, so try to make sure you’re getting enough.
I know I got a little bit tech-heavy today, but the main thing to keep in mind is screen time can affect the amount of restful sleep you’re getting. As I’ve said before, sleep is when your body recovers, so it’s important you are getting enough of it!
Wherever you are in the world, have a lovely day ❤
Thank you for re-blogging ❤
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Thank you for re-blogging ❤
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My partner recently got an ocular migraine induced by too much computer screen use and artificial phone light. Having a night-time phone curfew is definitely worthwhile
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I am always straining my eyes & getting headaches – Stepping away from the screen really helps.
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Great post.
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Thank you for your kind words ❤
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GREAT POST
http://my-wifiext.net/aboutus.html
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Thank you ❤
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I have to say that whenever I have been been on my phone swiping away right before dozing off, I have noticed a correlation between phone use and poor sleep.
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Yes, I always sleep poorly when my phone is near me or I am on it before bed 😦
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Hands down real and this needs to be known and absorbed by all, great post!
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Thank you so much ❤
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Wow, Its a great post. I would really appreciate and re-blog this post.
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You are more than welcome to re-blog ❤
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History of Android – Not an Incidence Rather an Evolutionary Setup.
https://androidgeekster.com/history-of-android/
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❤
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Thank you for re-blogging ❤
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Great post! Keep spreading such information.
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Thank you for your kind words ❤
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Great Blog, I absolutely agree..
https://wordpress.com/posts/timpollari.wordpress.com
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Thank you so much ❤
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This is so me. Major mad habits , especially since i can’t seem to sleep unless the tv is on! Great read
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I am happy to hear this was a great read for you ❤
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🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋
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❤
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Niec pic
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Thank you ❤
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I think we should all be more aware of technology induced problems! I foresee a rise in problems such as these in the future. Good to be aware!
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❤
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Very intriguing article, I use my phone in bed but that is to listen to my meditations and binaural beats. As a psychic and help others in self help I have helped others with sleep problems.
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I am so happy to hear that this was intriguing for you ❤
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Exactly! Agree with everything on this article. I can’t stress enough the importance of unplugging from every device before bed. I used to be a sufferer myself 🙅
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I am so happy to hear you agree ❤
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Thanks for the post
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You are most welcome ❤
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Thanks for re-blogging ❤
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Great post👏
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Thank you ❤
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Thank you for re-blogging ❤
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Thanks for re-blogging ❤
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Great tips! Sadly I’m in bed with my device now. I’ll work on it.
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Haha, thats too funny 😛 Work on it slowly 🙂
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Another great post, A,x.
I’ve found from friends and colleagues that the common culprits include not having a regular bedtime and using their phones in bed.
Both of which stem from a lack of concern and priority to sleep. The attitude that sleep is something we can forgo (and simply so easy to do) needs to change before a person can improve their quality of rest.
Unfortunately, changing this attitude is difficult because when you are sleep deprived, it’s difficult to notice the declining difference in day-to-day performance. It’s only when sleep problems begin to affect the average person that they do something about it – normally visiting a sleep clinic and medicating themselves.
Being knowledgeable of the sleep studies conducted by scientists and being aware of the severe impact technology has on, say, your melatonin production might be the stepping stone to reducing sleep deprivation and sleep problems a few years down the road for any person.
As always, thank you for your posts, A,x! 🙂
– SleepyBrian
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Thanks Brian 🙂
My phone is the WORST! Stops me from sleeping all the time. I am a big youtube lover, so I never sleep when watching youtube. 3-4 hours can pass by bc I am watching youtube.
❤
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both hands up here. I got the Amazon Paperwhite recently and it has made bedtime so much easier and more enjoyable. The difficult thing to avoid is checking your phone if you wake up, or get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. That gets your brain working and getting back to sleep becomes a massive challenge.
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Yes, I know what you mean, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night & can’t go back to sleep so I want to watch some youtube videos that I am subscribed too but than I think NOOOOOO I’ll end up staying up all night. ❤
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Interesting post!
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Thank you so much ❤
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I am guilty of using my phone at night and in bed! my psychiatrist told me about the blue light. I am trying to cut back on my usage now though. it is working. xxx
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Blue light is SUPER powerful.
Its good to be aware of these things & how it affects our health.
❤
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So interesting- I will have to try those tips! I have such trouble falling asleep at night!
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So do I – I have lots of trouble to. Probably from all the blue light I experience.
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So true, thanks for Post. I am guilty all these technology offenses.
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Me too girly 😛
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Bad habit that I’m guilty of myself! Great post
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#guilty 😛
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Guilty 😦 I notice the light can be an issue on my eyes and headache when you my cell or tablet for using Bible at church.
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YESSSSSSSSS!
I feel you there.
All I do is look at my phone on the train at work, work at a computer all day, phone the whole way home than laptop when I get home.
All I do is stare into blue light, which is not good for us 😦
❤
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We’re being brainwashed! Never fear… Doctor Who must be near… it’s always his fault somehow…lol
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Haha, you’re to funny Gail ❤
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