With the heavy usage of digital gadgets in today’s day and age, it is fair to say that many use their electronics for far too long before bed. Speaking from personal experience, I know that I used to spend too many hours toggling from one social media application to the other. It is a habit that feels stress free, but is incredibly harmful to our sleep schedule. After I put a limit on my screen time, I noticed a multitude of improvements in my everyday life. Here are some of the reasons that I recommend quitting screen time an hour before you go to bed.
- It allows you to establish an ideal nighttime routine
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After putting my phone in the charger, I take 30 minutes-hour for myself to wind down. Whether you are passionate about journaling, reading, or meditating, do it. The National Sleep Foundation says that engaging in high-energy or stressful activities lowers the odds of an easy transition to sleep. Though it was something I disregarded for years (I use to consider myself an insomniac), I promise that cutting out screen time before sleep changed my life.
- It boosted my mood and made me a happier person
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Prior to falling asleep, I would spend countless hours on social media. I’d go from Instagram to Twitter, check out my Snapchat stories, look at some Tik Toks and then head back to Instagram again. What we’ve learned over the years is that social media can be a very toxic tool. Psychological research has shown that it is detrimental to our mental health, relationships and has extreme long-term effects. Without knowing it, these social media apps were the addictive platform that I used to subconsciously compare myself to others on. This was the worst thing for me to do before bed and led to sleep deprivation. After I stopped doing this, the time it took me to fall asleep was nearly cut in half.
- It allowed me to learn more about myself
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This one might sound cliche, but it is accurate. I realized that immersing myself in the lives of people on social media resulted in a loss of time for myself. Whether it was staying up late to text someone, looking at someone else’s Instagram or watching a show on Netflix, I never did anything that made me feel relaxed. This essential 30 minutes to an hour allows me to reflect on my day and grow as a person.
- I felt more alert the next day
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I was quick to realize how amazing I felt the next morning after limiting my screen time. After falling asleep faster because of it, I also noticed a more steady sleeping pattern, and I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night as frequently. It was an incredible realization to notice that my choices before bed determined how I function the next day. I became more productive and I also decided to opt out of screen time 30 minutes after waking up in the morning which also made a beneficial impact on my life.
If I had to give one piece of advice to anyone that is trying to improve their mental health and well-being, it would be this. Do not use your phone for 30 minutes to an hour before bed. You have the potential to notice astronomical changes in your life. In addition, try doing it in the mornings. Enjoy!