Sleep Talk

We’ve all been there before. Tossing and turning in our beds at 2 am, our minds circling with thoughts and our hearts pounding like we just ran a marathon. We stare at the ceiling, count sheep and switch positions, but nothing seems to work. We resort to gazing at our phones and scrolling through Twitter to kill time. Sometimes we even turn on Netflix and watch a few episodes of the show that’s currently holding our fascination. We wake up restless, go about our day in a fog and repeat the process each night. Is sleeping supposed to be this hard?

We all know the obvious reasons that are compromising to a good night’s sleep. Daily napping, sleeping in, stress, uncomfort or an empty stomach are just a few examples. However, The Sound Sleep Institute describes another factor causing trouble with your nightly snooze, and you happen to be looking at it right now. No, I’m not talking about my blog (let’s be honest, it probably puts you to sleep). I’m talking about your computer screen, phone screen, tablet and/or television. The blue light given off by these devices affects melatonin levels and tells our bodies to stay awake and alert. Experts have known for a while that late-night technology use can negatively affect sleep, but a recent study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston proves that the impact is much greater than once suggested. Late-night technology use causes shorter REM cycles, delayed circadian rhythms and people tend to feel sleepier the next day despite receiving the recommended 8 hours of sleep.

So the next time you’re lying awake in the middle of the night, before you reach for your phone or laptop, think about the negative affects these devices will have on your sleep. Consider deep breathing, reading from a book or even switching rooms as an alternative. Twitter can always wait until the morning.