In today’s technologically driver world, our lives revolve around electronics. In fact, the average person spends a total of 8 hours and 41 minutes on electronic devices daily. This is greater than the average time a person spends sleeping per night, which is 8 hours and 21 minutes. While many people depend on their electronics for a multitude of reasons; such as social media, communication, entertainment, etc., has this dependence gone too far?
The National Sleep Foundation has concluded that approximately 95% of people who own an electronic device use it within an hour of going to bed. However, research has shown that using electronic devices before bed negatively impacts one’s overall night sleep. People who report texting before bed are more likely to wake up tired, report feeling sleep throughout the day, and more likely to feel drowsy while driving. To ensure a better night sleep, it is important to understand the benefits of “unplugging” or putting down your electronic device before going to bed.
Below are some tips to get a better night’s sleep:
- Unplug: Forty-five to sixty minutes before bedtime, turn off all electronics. The artificial light given off by electronic devices suppresses the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin, making it more difficult to fall asleep.
- Keep your cell phone out of the bedroom: To avoid any notifications, such as texts or calls, that could wake you up or disturb your sleep.
- Put all work paraphernalia away at least an hour before bed: To decrease levels of work-related stress before bed, which has the potential to keep you up at night.
Unplugging before bed will ensure an improved night’s sleep, and allow you to tackle your day feeling energized and refreshed, and thus more productive.
