Sleeping with Smartphones

Do you have trouble sleeping at night?

Everyday technology such as smartphones and tablets could be affecting how much sleep you get, a survey suggests.

More than three quarters of those surveyed use devices with screens before going to sleep. However the blue light they emit can disrupt the body's natural processes.

A psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, Professor Richard Wiseman, who was behind the survey, says six out of ten people are now getting less than seven hours sleep a night.

Smartphone research

Smartphone research out of the Netherlands in 2019 suggests that cutting off screen time two hours before it's time bedtime and time for a good nights sleep, or at least wearing glasses that block the blue hue from screens, could make a significant difference in a young adult's sleep patterns.

How to stop using your phone at night

This will probably sound obvious, but the best way to stop using your phone at night is to simply switch it off at bedtime. Alternatively, put it on charge on the other side of your bedroom, so you are not tempted to pick it up and use it when you're trying to go to sleep.

Don't hurt your eyes

Some say that using your phone at night is bad for your eyes. Using your Smartphone at night, in the dark or low level light, can increase the risk of speeding up loss of vision - say some experts.  The blue light that emits from your smartphone and laptop screens may seem harmless, but according to new research, it can be toxic for your eyes. It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina.