One of the biggest deterrents to a good night\u2019s sleep is screentime. From the pocket-sized digital devices that hook us in from the time the alarm rings\u2014usually on said device\u2014to the bedtime scrolling on endless social media sites, e-readers, and even good old television, screens have taken over our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for all their convenience and entertainment, why should we refrain from using them for an hour to two before planned sleep time? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter how chill that show is, or how mindlessly scrolling through news we missed, or playing Candy Crush can feel, that interaction with a screen is stimulating our brainwaves and even inducing adrenaline rushes instead of calming our nervous systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also the effects of blue light to consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All devices emit a certain level of blue light. While daytime exposure can help boost alertness, mood, and even brain function, prolonged exposure close to bedtime those very effects can make it harder to fall asleep\u2014and stay asleep\u2014because the blue light is inhibiting your body\u2019s release of melatonin. Long-term exposure can also affect overall eye health, from damaging retinal cells to causing cataracts and macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a mental level, exposing yourself to social media and news right before bed can also increase anxiety. Disconnecting for a stretch of time before bed will allow you to disassociate from all the bad news. It also opens up time to connect with the people directly around you without distraction; a far healthier form of connection that encourages those feel-good endorphins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NOTE! <\/em>It\u2019s recommended that any screens: TVs, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and all are turned off a minimum of one hour before sleep to encourage a solid seven-to-eight-hour span of uninterrupted rest that naturally takes you through all of the proper cycles of sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTips to Digitally Detox before bed for improved sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n