A long and healthy life is impossible without proper sleep. It repairs your body, restores energy, and prevents diseases. But you need to maintain some good habits for sound sleep.
Wondering how technology affects sleep? There are both pros and cons of gadgets in the bedroom. Smart devices can help you relax and provide security.
But at the same time, too much technology before bed can affect your sleep!
What Are the Pros and Cons of Gadgets in the Bedroom?
With the rise of technology, it’s quite common to use gadgets even before sleeping. But is it really healthy? Let’s look at the pros and cons to find out!
Pros of Using Technology Before Bed
While experts mostly recommend avoiding the use of technology before going to bed, here are some overlooked benefits –
- Entertainment and Relaxation
You can use smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs for access to a world of entertainment, music, and relaxation tools. This can create a personalized and enjoyable atmosphere in the bedroom.
Want to fall asleep faster? Try listening to soundtracks like ocean waves, rain, or white noise! You can also find meditations, breathing exercises, and sleep stories for more relaxation.
- Information Access
Having a device within reach allows for quick access to information. You can easily check the news, research a topic, or stay updated on social media.
- Security and Convenience
Smart home devices like security cameras can increase safety and comfort within the bedroom environment.
Want some peaceful time at home? Try using noise-cancellation headphones. This is one of the top gifts to support new parents!
- Sleep Tracking
Some wearable devices offer sleep-tracking features. They monitor sleep patterns, including the duration and quality of sleep.
Now, you can have great insights into your sleep stages like light, deep, and REM sleep.
Use fitness trackers and smartwatches to make sure you’re sleeping enough! These apps also come with built-in heart rate monitors, oxygen level sensors, and stress trackers.
- Temperature Monitoring
You can program smart bulbs to mimic natural light cycles. This will help you fall asleep more easily. Smart thermostats can adjust the bedroom temperature to an optimal level for sleep.
Now, you can improve your sleep quality in no time!
Cons of Keeping Technology in the Bedroom
As most people know, using digital devices before sleeping can affect your relaxation. Here’s how it works –
- Sleep Disruption
Screens emit blue light. This type of light interferes with your body’s natural sleep process. Your body produces a hormone called melatonin to help you feel sleepy.
Blue light reduces the amount of melatonin your body makes. As a result, it becomes more difficult to fall asleep and enjoy restful sleep.
- Mental Stimulation
The internet offers endless distractions, from social media to streaming services. Do you engage with social media, emails, or work-related tasks before bed?
This can stimulate the mind too much. So, you may find it difficult to relax and unwind. Checking emails, social media notifications, or news updates can also induce stress and anxiety!
- Increased Screen Time
If you have easy access to devices it can lead to excessive screen time. This negatively impacts your physical and mental health. You can feel eye strain and discomfort, or even headaches!
- Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)
Some studies suggest that the EMFs emitted by electronic devices can disrupt your sleep. These fields decrease rapid eye movement (REM) and affect your sleep cycle.
- Distractions and Interruptions
Notifications, alarms, and incoming calls can disrupt sleep and make it difficult to fall back asleep. We recommend turning the notifications off or switching to silent mode before going to bed!
Tips for Using Gadgets Before Sleep
Want to sleep peacefully without discarding gadgets before bed? Here are some tips you can follow –
- Activate the night mode or blue light filter on your device. This reduces the emission of blue light. Blue light can interfere with sleep.
- Lower the brightness of your device’s screen to reduce eye strain and minimize blue light exposure.
- Choose calming content like soft music, nature sounds, or relaxation apps for a soothing environment.
- Don’t engage in activities that are mentally stimulating or emotionally exhausting. Avoid suspenseful movies or scrolling through stressful news feeds!
- Set a specific time to stop using electronic devices before bed. This can be done an hour or two beforehand.
Finally, be aware of how using your device makes you feel. If you notice it’s interfering with your sleep, take a break or put it away!
The Bottom Line
To summarize how technology affects sleep, the pros and cons of gadgets in the bedroom depend on your usage.
If you use smart devices wisely, you’ll get security, entertainment, and relaxation. However, excessive use of gadgets can lead to sleep disruption, increased screen time, and distractions.
So, make sure to use your gadgets minimally before bed. Don’t go overboard with the notifications because good sleep is more important!
