How screen time affects your sleep

You’ve probably heard that using electronic devices with screens right before bed can negatively affect your sleep. But why is this, exactly?

As it turns out, the light from an electronic screen can disrupt your circadian rhythm, tricking your body into thinking it’s daytime.

Your circadian rhythm (your body’s internal clock) consists of a roughly 24-hour cycle of intermittent periods of drowsiness and alertness. Daylight keeps your circadian rhythm aligned with your environment, so that you start to get sleepy late at night when it’s dark.

Studies show, however, that the blue light emitted from screens interferes with the brain’s secretion of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. As a result, using technology before bed can prevent you from sleeping deeply, leaving you feeling groggy and unrested the next day.

For better rest, try to develop a routine that eliminates the use of screens an hour or so before you’re ready to sleep. Read a book, write in a journal or do some gentle stret¬ches before bed instead of checking your phone or watching TV.