We all use our phones constantly — there’s no two ways to that. Although increased use of technology has essentially become a way of life for people, including myself, the adverse effects are actually quite terrifying.
Since coming back to Davis, I find myself religiously on my phone before I go to sleep. Although initially I made nothing of it, as the quarter went by I found myself not being able to fall asleep as quickly and more agitated.
After talking to friends and peers, I realized it wasn’t just me with this problem: college students in general use their phone a lot before going to bed! According to a study conducted in 2012 by Time/Qualcomm, nearly three quarters of people between the ages of 18 and 44 sleep with their phones within reaching distance. The same study found that younger people claimed to “not sleep as well because [they] are connected to technology all the time.”
In fact, there is a chemical response to the light we see on our phones at night that stop us from sleeping. Melatonin, the hormone that regulates one’s circadian rhythm, otherwise known as our sleep/wake cycle, has been shown to be decreased in individuals who use an iPad before going to sleep. Multiple studies suggest to detox yourself of any electronic devices half an hour before going to sleep. This will result in an improved mood and an easier time falling asleep. In an additional study conducted at the Norwegian Research Center, people who spend more than four hours a day looking at a screen had a 49% greater rate of falling asleep an hour later and were three and a half times more likely to sleep less than 5 hours a night.
So put your phones down before going to sleep! Plug your charger in away from your bed and get the proper sleep you need for the night! As college students, sleep is already sparse. By using our phones before going to sleep, we are minimizing the already precious amount of sleep we deserve. Although a hard change to implement, getting off your phone should result in a happier you!
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