Turning on the TV before bedtime can disrupt our sleep cycles and excessive exposure can lead to depression and anxiety. “Anything that is stimulating to the brain before bed may be detrimental to one's ability to fall asleep,” explains Dr. Richard Shuster, clinical psychologist and host of The Daily Helping podcast.
What are the downsides to watching TV before bed? Unfortunately, the scientific consensus is that exposure to all screens before bed are bad for sleep. The main reason: Blue light from screens may suppress your body's production of the sleep hormone melatonin and throw off your circadian rhythm.
It decreases your melatonin production
TVs and other devices that produce blue light can reduce the amount of melatonin your body makes. This can make it hard for your brain to know whether it's night or day.
Falling asleep with your TV on means you're also soaking in blue light from electronics. This can mess with the quality of your sleep by suppressing the production of melatonin, the hormone that keeps your sleep/wake cycle in check. And it can delay sleep onset, or the amount of time it takes to fall asleep said Dr.
When to Shut Off Screens Before Bedtime. Experts recommend that you avoid handheld devices and other electronics in the 30 minutes leading up to bedtime. It's also suggested that you limit light exposure within two hours of going to bed.
“A key feature of insomnia (or general inability to fall asleep) is that people are inwardly focused and often have cyclic thoughts,” says Zeitzer. “Watching something on TV can, basically, allow people to get out of their own way and allow for sleep to occur.”
Late-night TV viewing and continuing exposure to synthetic light can disrupt your circadian rhythm and melatonin levels, as the experts at the National Sleep Foundation point out. Regarding melatonin's role in sleep, “Your body produces melatonin naturally.
Wet hair when sleeping also can cause damage to follicles and result in hair breakage. Skin conditions: Hair follicles under the skin clogged up with sebum or oil can result in acne. As wet hair harbors bacteria, this can also impact the growth of bacteria in the pores.
More specifically, artificial light, including the illumination from your television, has been linked to weight gain, depression, anxiety, dementia, cancer, acne, and diabetes.
Netflix affects your sleep.
What's more, the blue from your TV can interfere with your ability to fall asleep when you're finally ready for bed. Light interferes with the production of melatonin, a hormone that lets the brain know when it's time for sleep.
Sleeping with socks on may not be for you if you have circulatory issues, swelling of the feet, or other issues that could potentially increase the likelihood of socks restricting blood flow to your legs and feet. As always, make sure to talk to your doctor about if sleeping with socks on is right for you.
Music improves sleep through calming parts of the autonomic nervous system, leading to slower breathing, lower heart rate, and reduced blood pressure.
If you are someone who sleeps with the TV on, you're not alone. A National Sleep Foundation poll found that 60% of Americans watch TV right before bed, and according to an LG Electronics survey, 61% of Americans fall asleep with the TV on.
“Researchers have found that moderate to high television viewing during midlife is associated with increased memory loss and decreased fine motor skills,” explains Manisha Parulekar, M.D., director, division of Geriatrics, and co-director, Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack University Medical Center.
It can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. That means your flickering screen is sending your body the message that it needs to stay awake instead of winding down to prepare for sleep. It's best to avoid screens altogether for the 60 to 90 minutes prior to bedtime.
For many people, the couch is a comfortable place where you can relax, unwind, and clear your head. It's warm, it's cozy, and is free of many of the stresses you may feel once you crawl into bed.
It may surprise you, but before television took off, radio was the medium of choice. Not just with music stations and talk shows, radio shows captured the hearts and minds of generations with the radio drama.
While research is limited, anecdotal reports show that sleeping without a pillow can help reduce neck and back pain for some sleepers. Stomach sleepers are generally best suited for going pillowless, because the lower angle of the neck encourages better spinal alignment in this position.
There's no rules for what is best to wear to bed. You should do what makes you comfortable and will help you get a good night's sleep, whether that be wearing or not wearing clothes. It doesn't matter what you wear to sleep, everything is completely normal!