Excessive screen time, especially before bedtime, disrupts our circadian rhythm

negative effects of screen time on sleep

Why is it recommended to reduce your screen time before going to sleep?

Technology makes it possible for us to work, study, and play 24-hours a day, so technology and a 24/7 lifestyle is often blamed for causing an epidemic of poor sleep. How does technology affect your sleep?

What do you do each night before closing your eyes? Do you use your phone to send messages, play games or even watch movies? You’re not alone. But did you know that the light from your screen can interfere with your sleep? If you are one of the millions of teenagers worldwide who are not getting a good night’s sleep, you may want to consider turning off your phone an hour before bed.Before the arrival of artificial lighting, we began and ended our day at the command of the sun. As sunlight diminishes, our bodies naturally produce a chemical called melatonin which helps to bring on sleep. But with artificial light, our brains can be fooled into thinking that night-time is actually daytime. The light from a phone’s screen is more problematic than other forms of artificial light because it has a higher concentration of blue light, the colour of light from the visible spectrum that most impedes melatonin production. This means that looking at a screen late at night can play havoc with your natural sleeping pattern, affecting the quality of your sleep, and making you feel tired in the morning even if you slept for a long time. Some phones have a special night-reading mode where white text is displayed on a black background. This helps to reduce the amount of blue light entering your eyes, but if you’re looking at the screen for a couple of hours, the purpose is defeated.Of course, screen time is not the only factor that affects your ability to sleep. For example, eating high-protein foods before bed can also affect how well you sleep. However, given that sleep is so important to your health, it may be time to evaluate your own mobile phone habits.Question promptWhy is blue light a problem at night?

How does screen time influence one's mood?