When you go to bed, do you scroll through your social media channels, check your email, message a friend, or watch TV? Research shows 81% of people use their phones before going to bed, according to a survey by Deloitte.
No matter what activity you’re doing on your phone, doctors say it could ruin your sleep.
What is it about your phone that’s so harmful to your sleep? Here are three ways that little screen is messing with you:
1. It takes longer to fall asleep
Research shows people who use smartphones before bed have a harder time falling asleep. Whether you go to sleep thinking about a recent text from a boyfriend or the grim headlines from your favorite news app, the simple process of consuming that much information before bed makes it harder to get to sleep.
2. It messes with your sleep rhythm
Your smartphone can alter your sleep rhythm. The blue light that’s cast from the phone can interrupt your internal circadian clock.
Why is this important? This clock is connected to many, many things in your body like your metabolism and appetite. When your rhythm is off, it impacts other areas of your life.
3. It’s harder to get up in the morning
Having a hard time waking up? If you’re feeling a bit groggy, the first culprit to investigate is your phone. Reading a screen, according to a Harvard study, can delay your sleep and keep you from getting restful sleep. As a result, you wake up feeling tired and unmotivated.
If you’re struggling with sleep problems, consider putting your phone on its charger 30-60 minutes before bedtime. Put the charger in another room so you’re not tempted to pick it up during the night or grab it first thing in the morning.
