Put Down the Phone: Ensure A Good Night's Sleep By Keeping Technology Out of the Bedroom

Our mobile phones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices have turned out to be such vital accessory of our every day activities that it's becoming difficult to put them down even when we go to sleep. Having your phone on your bedside table is something we do everyday, but what most people don't realize is that it affects your rest in more ways than you understand. Whether you're surfing the web, playing a computer game, or using your phone to wake you up, you're inadvertently keeping yourself from having a peaceful night. Below are some of the facts on how technology is affecting your sleep.

They Affect Melatonin Production

The screens on our phones, PCs, tablets, and TVs emit blue light that limit the creation of melatonin. This is the hormone that is in charge of your sleeping cycle and when its levels drop, it becomes harder to fall asleep. Most people use these gadgets an hour prior to their bed time. To ensure technology is not ruining your sleep, give yourself no less than 30 minutes of technology-free time before getting some shut eye. Most importantly, make your bedroom a gadget free zone. This means that you keep your hardware outside the room including the big screen TV.

They Make You More Alert

It might appear to be innocuous to send out a couple of messages before bed or relax watching a movie, however by keeping your brain occupied, these gadgets trick your mind into believing that it needs to stay alert. An interesting Facebook post or a negative message can make it difficult to relax and fall asleep. Doing non-rest exercises in bed such as watching a movie, gaming or texting is bad for you. When your mind starts associating your bedroom with these activities, the less it will consider letting you sleep. Let the bed be used for your much needed sleep just to prepare your brain for better rest.

Technology is Affecting your Weight

Although obesity and weight gain rely upon a few elements, our sleep habits do seem to play a part. Scientists have found out that overweight individuals slept less than normal weight adults. The weight gain was linked to the absence on rules governing technology use in many households, unlimited screen time, multiple TVs in every room and other variables. The most affected party appears to be the ladies with sleep schedules that are inconsistent. They have higher BMI ratings and are more prone to obesity than women with consistent sleep schedules. It is well known that continuous lack of sleep ends up showing on the body's physical functions and additional hours spent awake means additional hours available to eat, this is the rationale behind the obesity and weight gain.

There are a couple of things you can do before bed with technology to improve your probability of a decent night's rest. You could try reading a book or listening to some slow tunes as you fall asleep. Maybe consider switching off your mobile phone before going to rest and not touching it until morning.