Have Smartphones Become Our New Bed Partners?

By Stacey Ross

No pun intended, but in doing a bit of research on the topic of sleeping with smartphones, I had an eye-opening experience: there is not only growing pressure to be available to peers and colleagues 24/7, but this particularly addictive habit is compromising the health and well-being of mobile phone owners everywhere.

Do you take your mobile phone into the bedroom? I myself have fallen asleep with my phone far more times than I can count, and it appears to be a particular problem among young phone users. A HuffPost/YouGov survey revealed that 63 percent of smart phone users aged 18 – 29 sleep with their cell phones, smartphones or tablets in the bed with them.

Studies tell the story

We sleep in cycles of 1½ – 2 hours, with brief moments of waking in between that normally go unnoticed. However, if we train our brains to take a late-night peak at our gadgets, we are doing ourselves a great disservice. A 2011 study at Stanford University tested the effect of a total of just 0.12 seconds of light exposure during the night. Participants were exposed to pulses of light lasting two milliseconds each for an hour. This delayed the body clock and the participants became more alert.

And because of the way we sleep, having a mobile device by the bed means that  if we do wake up in the night we’re more likely to stay awake. And if  we’re expecting a phone call, a text, a reply to an inquiry, etc., this is going to make us less prone to relaxation and a good night’s sleep.

The absence of quality sleep can result in increased irritability, anxiety and depression, as well as reduced concentration, stifled creativity, depression and many more negative symptoms. The bright, high-quality screens on modern phones emit artificial light, which is considered a melatonin inhibitor and a cortisol stimulator, hence keeping us awake longer.

It’s also interesting to note that neuro-imaging has shown that back-and-forth texting floods the pleasure centers of the brain, the same area that lights up when using heroin or other addictive drugs! Not only might texting disrupt crucial sleep patterns but it might also bring on insomnia, headaches and other health issues. Who wants to be a smartphone junkie?

Bring back the teddy bear

Experts across the board suggest that mobile phone owners move their phones off the bedside table and out of bedrooms altogether. Sleep expert Dr. Neil Stanley says: “In order to get a good night’s sleep, you have to feel safe and not worried about anything. By having your phone close by at night, you’re subconsciously saying you wish to attend to that phone. The brain will monitor the situation and your sleep will be lighter and more likely to be disturbed.”

Balance is always a key factor. It is up to parents to set smartphone guidelines that go beyond the topics of safety and privacy. Creating a healthful pattern of turning off our phones and storing them in another room is a vital move for the well-being of not only our children, but ourselves as well!

P.S. Thanks for calling ME on this, Mom. I’ll call you after I catch up on my sleep! (Just kidding!)

Stacey Ross is an online consultant, social media enthusiast, freelancer and owner of SanDiegoBargainMama.com. A former teacher and middle school counselor, she is now a mom of two who researches and freelances about lifestyle topics involving family and well-being.

Comments:

  1. I think this is among the most vital information for me.
    And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things,
    The site style is wonderful, the articles is really excellent : D.

    Good job, cheers

  2. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this excellent
    blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding
    your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates
    and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.
    Talk soon!

  3. I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the massage you provided me.

    Your skilled hands and calming presence were exactly what
    I needed to relax and unwind after a long and stressful week.

  4. Let me give you a thumbs up man. Can I show you exactly how to do amazing values and if you want to really findout?
    and also share valuable info about how to make
    money yalla lready know follow me my fellow commenters!.

  5. Hey I am so happy I found your site, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Google for something
    else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thanks for
    a remarkable post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the
    moment but I have book-marked it and also included your
    RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to
    read a great deal more, Please do keep up the great jo.

  6. Great article! This is the kind of information that are meant to be shared across the web.
    Shame on Google for now not positioning this submit higher!
    Come on over and visit my site . Thank you =)

  7. Can I show my graceful appreciation and tell you exactly how to
    do really good stuff and if you want to
    really findout? Let me tell you a brief about how to get connected to girls easily and
    quick I am always here for yall you know that right?

  8. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here
    and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
    Superb work!

  9. Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I
    stumbleupon on a daily basis. It will always be
    useful to read content from other authors and
    use a little something from other web sites.

  10. Hello, Neat post. There is an issue along with your web site in web explorer, would test this?
    IE nonetheless is the market leader and a big component of
    other people will omit your wonderful writing because of this problem.

  11. Nice weblog here! Additionally your site quite a bit up very fast!
    What web host are you the usage of? Can I am getting your affiliate link on your host?
    I desire my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol

  12. It is the best time to make a few plans for the long run and it’s time to be happy.
    I’ve learn this publish and if I could I wish to suggest you few attention-grabbing things or advice.
    Perhaps you could write subsequent articles regarding this article.
    I want to learn more things about it!

  13. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your weblog.

    You have some really great posts and I believe I
    would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some
    of the load off, I’d love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
    Please send me an e-mail if interested. Thanks!

  14. Holymoly that’s crazy man! Thank you so much I really
    appreciate for this man. Can i show my value on change your life and
    if you want to get a peek? I will definitly share info about how
    to find hot girls for free I will be the one showing values from now on.

  15. Hi terrific blog! Does running a blog like this require a large amount of work?
    I have no knowledge of coding however I had been hoping to
    start my own blog soon. Anyway, should you have any recommendations or techniques for new
    blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject however I simply needed to ask.

    Thanks!

  16. 와~ 이건 진짜 대박이네요. 제가 그토록 원하던 정보들이네.
    저또한 똑같이 해줘야되겠는데, 저도 가치를 제공하고 싶은데요 그거아시나
    혹시 돈 버는 방법 말도 안되는 이야기라고는 하지만 이렇게 멋진 내용를 저만 알고 있는 방법이 있는데 제가 가치 제공을 해드리겠습니다.
    한번 믿어보시고 확인 해보시죠!

  17. Admiring the time and effort you put into your site and detailed information you provide.
    It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the
    same unwanted rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve saved
    your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  18. You are so interesting! I do not suppose I’ve truly read through a single thing like this before.
    So great to find somebody with a few original thoughts on this topic.

    Really.. thanks for starting this up. This site is one thing that
    is needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality!

  19. of course like your website however you have to take a look at the spelling
    on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with
    spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality however I’ll
    definitely come again again.

  20. Yall already know how much iwant to give a subscribe
    or a follow for this. Let me reach out really amazing stuff and if you want to know whats up?
    I will share info about how to make passive income check and follow me
    bros!

  21. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled
    upon your blog and in accession capital to assert that
    I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and
    even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

  22. hello!,I like your writing very much! share we keep up a correspondence more approximately your
    article on AOL? I need a specialist in this space to unravel
    my problem. Maybe that’s you! Taking a look ahead to peer you.

  23. Hi, I do think this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may return once again since i
    have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may
    you be rich and continue to help other people.

  24. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before
    but after looking at some of the posts I realized
    it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and
    I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

  25. I do agree with all the concepts you have introduced in your post.

    They are really convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are
    very brief for starters. May you please lengthen them a bit from next time?
    Thanks for the post.

  26. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could
    add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter
    updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe
    you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *