Phones. They’re pretty addictive, and it can be hard switching off from them. There’s just so much information at your fingertips it’s impossible to know when you’ve had enough. That often means many of us end up staring at them right before we try to get some sleep. This is why you should not be on your phone before bed.
Unwinding
Your time before bed is meant to be spent unwinding and clearing your thoughts of anything that’s going on in your life. It’s the time to try and disengage your brain, so being on your phone before bed is not ideal. That is providing a stimulus to your mind meaning you won’t be getting your sleep whenever you want it. There are plenty of other things you can do before going to bed, and you’ve probably looked at your phone enough already before the end of the day.
Constant scrolling
It can be tempting to have one last check of your social media feed before turning in for the night. You tell yourself you’re only going to check the first few pages, but more than an hour later you’re still scrolling. It’s not like you’re actually paying attention to what you’re looking at, you just keep scrolling for the sake of it.
That time you’ve spent scrolling could have been spent sleeping and future you isn’t going to thank you for wasting that time. Now you’ll be waking up in the morning with less sleep than you need, which will make the rest of your day tough.
Social media addiction is no joke, and it’s becoming a real problem. Not only are you spending countless hours looking at what other people are doing, instead of actually doing something yourself, but you’re affecting your sleep pattern.
Lights, camera, action
The lights on your phone can trick your eyes into thinking they are seeing daylight, which wakes up your body clock. Our bodies have evolved to fall asleep when night falls over thousands of years. By looking at your phone not long before going to bed, you are effectively waking yourself back up. There is blue light that’s emitted from our phones that our eyes confuse with daylight and it can keep us up hours longer than we need to be.
Effects of losing sleep
It’s really not great when you lose sleep, as you probably know. Many health risks come from not getting enough sleep, plus general tiredness can be dangerous. Walking around in a blur because you’re tired means you aren’t paying attention to what’s going on around you, and that’s even worse if you’re driving.
Poor sleep quality increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Lacking in sleep can also raise anxiety issues, slows down your cognitive functions, and places you at risk of having a stroke.
The worst thing about going on your phone so close to bedtime is the effect it has on your sleep. Losing sleep negatively impacts your body and mind, so turning your phone off well before bed could be good for your health!
