Technology has gradually taken over our lives, with the majority of us using mobile phones whilst in bed. This is very different to watching television in bed as your mobile screen is directly in front of your eyes. The blue light is what has a negative effect on your sleeping pattern. But considering that 80% of the world’s population has a mobile phone, it is important that you understand the dangers of using technology in bed. Read more in our related post advantages and disadvantages of using technology before bed.
What Is Blue Light?
Blue light is an alternative name to the artificial light that is transmitted from screens. Exposure to this artificial light during the evening and at night can actually affect the brain cells that help promote feelings of sleepiness, as well the “sleep hormone” melatonin. They can even stimulate the brain cells that are linked to alertness.
What Are The Effects of Blue Light?
Darkness naturally hints to our bodies that it’s time to sleep. However, this is combated against with the increased use of mobile devices late at night. These screens give off short wavelengths (blue light) which our eyes are a lot more sensitive to. It’s these bright screens, especially once the lights are out, which can cause us to struggle to get to sleep even after finally putting our them down for the night.
Stimulation: The content on electronic devices can be stimulating and can make it harder to relax and wind down before bed.
Distraction: Scrolling through social media, watching videos, or playing games can be distracting and can make it harder to focus on relaxing and preparing for sleep.
Sleep schedule disruption: Using electronic devices late at night can disrupt the body's internal clock, making it harder to fall asleep at the desired bedtime.
Light exposure: The light from electronic devices can also interfere with the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
To avoid the negative effects of technology on sleep patterns, it's recommended to avoid using electronic devices for at least an hour before bed, or to use a blue light filter on electronic devices to reduce the amount of blue light emitted. Additionally, creating a bedtime routine that helps relax and prepare for sleep can be beneficial.
Alternatives to Technology
We may be fairly familiar with watching television in bed, catching up on the latest Netflix series on our iPads or just browsing Twitter on your smartphones. But how did people cope before all of this technology was around? They would read a book (not an Ebook). This is not only beneficial for your brain, it can also ease you into a relaxed state, providing you are reading a book that isn’t too intense.
Summary
Overall, we would suggest that you avoid staring at a screen within the last hour of going to bed. Instead, you should read a book or do a puzzle. We hope you found this advice useful, let us know if you use your mobile phone before sleeping in the comments section below.
