Jessica Peoples, like many individuals today, is no stranger to the cautionary tales surrounding excessive screen time before bed. Despite this awareness, she admits to spending between 30 to 60 minutes on her phone before drifting off to sleep, often engrossed in social media feeds. Peoples, employed as a discrimination investigator with the state of New Jersey, acknowledges the impact of her screen time on her sleep, noting, “Recently, I’ve been trying to limit the amount… I do notice that how much time I spend affects how long it takes to fall asleep.”
The prevalence of this behavior extends beyond just Peoples. A survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that over half of Americans engage with their phones within an hour of bedtime, prompting experts to highlight this hour as the cutoff point for device usage. Melissa Milanak, an associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina specializing in sleep health, underscores the necessity for the brain to unwind well before bedtime to facilitate restorative deep sleep. Drawing an analogy, she compares the brain’s need to cool down before sleep to letting a casserole cool before refrigerating, emphasizing the importance of this preparatory phase for optimal sleep quality.
While altering bedtime habits may pose challenges, the consequences of insufficient sleep are well-documented, ranging from heightened anxiety to obesity. Research underscores the disruptive impact of smartphones on the body’s circadian rhythm, crucial for regulating sleep and hormone functions. Lisa Strauss, a licensed psychologist focusing on cognitive behavioral treatment of sleep disorders, elucidates the multifaceted ways in which screens impede sleep. Beyond the widely discussed blue light emitted by smartphones, even minimal exposure to bright light in bed can disrupt melatonin production, thus delaying the onset of deep sleep.
However, it’s not merely the light emissions that disrupt sleep patterns; the activities conducted on screens also play a significant role. From endlessly scrolling through news updates to succumbing to the allure of personalized social media content, engaging with digital devices at night carries its own set of repercussions. Technostress, induced by the constant influx of information, can trigger heightened arousal, potentially activating the brain’s fight-or-flight response. Additionally, algorithmically curated content often leads users into prolonged scrolling sessions, far beyond their intended duration.
Despite much of the existing research on digital media’s impact on sleep focusing on younger demographics, Strauss notes that a substantial portion of her clients grappling with insomnia are middle-aged individuals. She observes a trend wherein individuals immerse themselves in online content, spiraling down addictive rabbit holes, irrespective of age.
Breaking the cycle of nighttime phone usage necessitates a holistic approach, encompassing not just restricting phone usage in bed but also revamping evening routines. This entails cultivating alternative activities that provide fulfillment and relaxation. Suggestions include indulging in reading physical books (preferably over e-readers), listening to podcasts, engaging in household chores, spending quality time with family, or connecting with loved ones. Milanak emphasizes the importance of utilizing the pre-sleep hour for tasks devoid of screen involvement, recommending the creation of to-do lists as a means of diverting attention away from rumination in bed.
Moreover, it’s crucial to establish a mental association between the bed and sleep by performing non-screen-related activities in another room. Strauss advocates for delineating distinct microenvironments for wakefulness and sleep, even if it entails minor adjustments like altering one’s seating position or facing a different direction. Placing the phone out of reach, preferably in another room, serves as a practical measure to minimize the temptation of late-night screen usage.
For those finding complete cessation of nighttime phone usage unfeasible, there are strategies to mitigate the adverse effects. Implementing night mode settings on devices or gradually reducing screen brightness can help attenuate the impact of artificial light on sleep quality. Minimizing disruptive notifications by activating “do not disturb” mode, with exceptions for essential contacts, offers a compromise between connectivity and sleep hygiene. However, Strauss cautions against viewing these measures as a carte blanche for unrestricted nocturnal screen time, encouraging individuals to reflect on the underlying reasons driving their late-night digital habits.
In essence, addressing the pervasive issue of nighttime phone usage necessitates a comprehensive overhaul of bedtime routines and digital habits. By fostering alternative pre-sleep activities and implementing practical strategies to minimize screen exposure, individuals can reclaim restful sleep and mitigate the detrimental effects of excessive screen time on sleep quality and overall well-being.
