Table of Contents
- Can too much screen time cause sleep problems?
- Sleep in Children
- Sleep in Teenagers
- Screen Time and Sleep for Heart Patients
- Screen Time and Sleep for Pregnant Women
Can too much screen time cause sleep problems?
Ah, the pleasure of screen time: browsing through social media, binge-watching our favorite series, or playing video games till we can no longer tell the time.
Everything is funny and about video games until you find yourself lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering why you can’t sleep!
It turns out that the displays we choose are most likely contributing to the issue.
Let’s demolish it.
The natural sleep cycle of our bodies is disrupted when we stare at screens for extended periods of time, especially before bed.
You see, the circadian rhythm—a cool internal clock that tells us when to wake up and when to go to bed—is a part of our body.
However, displays, especially the blue light they produce, have the ability to trick this clock into believing it is still daytime even when it is only somewhat light outside.
What was the outcome?
You’re having trouble falling asleep and wakefulness seems like a distant dream.
Let us now discuss some of the details. We’ll look at how youngsters, teens, heart patients, and even expectant mothers sleep in relation to display time.
Sleep in Children
The war is real, if you’ve ever tried to fight a pill at bedtime that’s far away from a baby!
These days, kids grow up surrounded by monitors on everything from TVs to tablets to cellphones.
Additionally, even though those gadgets might keep children occupied, they might keep them up late.
Children’s sleep can be delayed when they spend too much time staring at screens. The hormone that puts us to sleep, melatonin, is suppressed by blue mild from monitors.
Hence, rather than relaxing, their minds are still buzzing from the last scene of their favorite awesome animated movie or video game.
And let’s face it, nobody finds it funny if they are staying up late since that means grumpy kids in the morning!
Research indicates that children who spend more time on screens, especially in the evening, tend to sleep for shorter periods of time and wake up later.
That means it’s probably time to press stop the next time you hear, parents: “Just one extra game!”
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Sleep in Teenagers
In terms of display screen time, teens are now in a class by themselves.
They are the epitome of late-night messaging, gaming marathons, TikTok scrolling, and Snapchat streaks.
However, the movement of the display screen is negatively affecting their sleep. It’s evident that teenagers find it stressful to stay up late; it’s just in their nature. However, adding display screen time to the mix is like to dousing a fire with gasoline.
Their sleep patterns get even more disrupted, and before they realize it, they’re up until two in the morning and have no idea how quickly the hours have passed.
And what’s the wager?
Teenagers who don’t get enough sleep may experience a range of issues, including difficulty concentrating in class and mood changes.
It’s as though they live in a typical sleep-deprived kingdom that has Wi-Fi.
Teens can be prevented from becoming lifelong night owls by imposing some restrictions on their screen usage before bed.
Screen Time and Sleep for Heart Patients
For those who suffer from coronary heart disease, sleep is crucial.
The saying “relaxation is the great medicine” is probably familiar to you.
That is especially true for people who are dealing with coronary heart disease. However, too much time spent on screens can interfere with sleep and hinder the body’s ability to heal itself.
Poor sleep just adds pressure to the already existing desire of heart patients to take better care of their health.
The blue light from displays doesn’t help because, like with everyone else, it throws off their sleep patterns.
Furthermore, too much screen time can lead to increased blood pressure, less physical activity, and poorer quality sleep, all of which can exacerbate heart problems.
Therefore, turning off the screens an hour or so before going to bed is a great idea for those who suffer from coronary heart disease. Rather than scrolling, pick a great book, some relaxation techniques, or even just a conversation with a loved one.
Their hearts will appreciate it, as well as their sleep.
Screen Time and Sleep for Pregnant Women
With all of the late-night snack desires, bathroom runs, and that lovely element known as heartburn, pregnancy can already make sleep difficult.
Adding display time to the mixture now will result in even less sleep.
Expectant mothers are often advised to get as much sleep as possible, but excessive screen time, especially at night, might keep them up at night.
Their melatonin production is disrupted by the blue mild, which makes it harder for them to fall asleep.
Additionally, even when they are supposed to be settling down, their thoughts can be kept racing by browsing through endless lists of kid-friendly tools or reading through all the blogs about pregnant women.
However, it’s no longer essentially falling asleep. Women who are expecting desire uninterrupted, deep sleep, and wearing monitors may make it harder for them to achieve this.
Therefore, turning off those monitors before going to bed and creating a calming nighttime routine should have a significant impact on how well-rested they feel.
1. Your Brain Needs a Break!
Just picture yourself trying to unwind after a long day when someone bursts into a loud song.
The bright light on your phone does just that in your brain. When you look at your screen right before bed, the blue light tricked your brain into thinking it was still daytime.
It’s similar to telling your mind to “stay awake!” when all it wants is some quiet time.
Thus, instead of drifting off to sleep, you wake up tossing and turning. Give your thoughts some space and let it unwind; you might notice that you fall asleep more quickly.
And let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy getting more sleep?
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2. Better Sleep, Better You
In relation to sleeping, did you know that looking at your phone right before bed disrupts your body’s natural sleep cycle?
The circadian rhythm is a handy little feature of your body that informs you when to sleep and when to wake up.
Imagine it as an internal clock. However, while you are engrossed in using your phone, your rhythm becomes disrupted.
It’s similar to showing off too much during the wrong occasion.
Even if you do fall asleep, you might not experience the deep relaxation your body requires. What was the outcome? You wake up feeling like a zombie, reaching for that 0.33 cup of coffee around midday.
3. Stress? No, Thanks!
Increased pressure is the last thing I want before going to bed, but I’m not sure about you.
Nevertheless, we find ourselves browsing through emails, paintings, news headlines, or social media dramas before we even close our eyes.
It’s like to throwing a pillow party where pressure is invited.
Observing that heated debate brewing on social media or that pressing painting in your inbox might raise your stress levels and make it more difficult to unwind.
And really, do you really want to go to sleep with your mind racing about things that can wait till the morning?
Your future self will appreciate you for giving yourself the gift of quiet time.
4. Say Goodbye to Eye Strain
Have you ever noticed that your eyes become dry and tired from staring at your phone or telecell for extended periods of time?
Your eyes are trying to tell you to take a rest!
The condition is known as virtual eye strain, which is exacerbated by staring at your screen in the dark.
Your eyes are always racing against the clock as they try to adjust to the bright display panel in a dimly lit space.
Not to mention, tired eyes might cause headaches, which is honestly something you should no longer deal with properly before bed. So, how about we give the people who are looking good a well-deserved nap?
5. More Time for “Me Time”
Here’s a motivation that could sound very alluring: more time for you!
We become so engrossed in our phones that we forget to take a moment to ourselves.
Storing your phone away might free up time for relaxing activities like reading a book, practicing meditation, or just taking a moment to reflect on the day.
It’s similar to buying and selling endless scrolling for a product that unquestionably helps you relax and rejuvenate.
Additionally, you will feel more rested in the morning rather than exhausted from a late-night TikTok binge.
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