How Technology Can Impact On Your Sleep
It’s often been questioned as to whether using technology right before bed time has a negative impact on your health.
The common excuses such as wanting to check what’s happening on social media, or wanting to catch up with your friends or the latest news seem to be re-occurring, but opting for technology time before you head to sleep can have detrimental effects on your overall mood and wellbeing.
It’s been proven that technology really does have a negative effect on your sleep and it’s not something that varies from person to person… The science behind it is proven.
We share how exactly technology can impact your sleep and how to ensure your quality of rest isn’t compromised.
Is it bad to use a mobile phone before bed?
One of the main reasons why you should NOT use a mobile phone before bed is down to your actual brain activity.
Using a mobile phone before bed probably doesn’t seem like it’s the most complex activity… Even though your brain isn’t being particularly strained, it is still engaged and concentration levels are high. This means that when you do eventually put your phone down, your brain is still working away; making it hard for you to relax and settle down enough to be able to sleep.
Hormones can also be effected depending on what exactly you’re doing on your mobile phone. More ‘exciting’ activities such as a playing an intense action game, or even a stimulating phone conversation can release hormones like adrenaline – a hormone which will make it near impossible for you to be able to fall into a comfortable sleep for the night.
Experts recommended that you should stop using these sorts of devices somewhere around 1 hour before you close your eyes to sleep, so that you get an optimum rest. If you absolutely must stimulate your brain before bed, then opting for a printed book is without a doubt the most relaxing option that doesn’t compromise on sleep quality.
Blue light and melatonin
Even if you’re not browsing anything interesting before bed, the blue light emitted by the technology you’re using can cause a sleep that is less than relaxing.
Along with straining your eyes, this blue light restrains the production of melatonin – the hormone which controls your sleep cycle. Reducing the amount of this hormone by using technology before bed means that it becomes harder not only to fall asleep, but to stay asleep and have quality rest.
A lack of melatonin makes for restless nights, and means that you’re even more tired than you would’ve been when you eventually wake up in the morning.
Sleeping next to your mobile phone
Even if you’ve managed to put your phone down on your bedside and done something relaxing, having it so close to you while you sleep is also one of the biggest things that should be avoided.
22% of people have reported going to sleep with their mobile phone ringers still on loud, and 10% have admitted being woken by these devices at least a few nights a week. Many people are not recognising that sleep is vital to your wellbeing and a lack of it can result in serious consequences.
Being woken up by something as trivial as an email or a notification from a game you installed three months ago and have only ever played once or twice is ridiculous. Your body needs the sleep to function properly and keep your mind alert.
If the quality of your sleep is something that you’re concerned about, then along with avoiding technology one of the best things you can do is have a comfortable place to sleep. Here at Odd Mattress, your comfort is what we are passionate about, so check out our wide variety of mattresses and let us help you to have the best sleep possible!