Do Your Electronics Follow You into the Bedroom?
By Sandy Schroeder
Many of us find it almost impossible to leave all electronics outside the bedroom. Phones, TVs and laptops make it into the bedroom keeping us up and invading sleep.
At the same time, we may wish for better sleep, as we struggle through daily routines, consuming major amounts of caffeine.
But what happens when we try to step away from electronics?
Abandoning Your Phone
Jen Hubley Luckwaldt reported in Prevention.com what happened when she stopped taking her phone to bed. She said, “The first five mornings were like waking up to discover that I’d lost my keys, wallet, and eyeglasses during the night. I had two dreams in which I was checking my smartphone, and it froze. I woke up totally enraged.”
At the end of the week, she said she felt more rested, and much less tense. The background worry triggered by urgent emails subsided. When she did check her phone, the world, and her job, were still there!
Turning Off Late Night TV
For others who need a nightly fix watching their favorite late night comedians, the electronics issue is similar. Once the television takes root in the bedroom, it’s easy to watch one more show, or flip it on in the middle of the night. The next day it is easy to feel the effects of lost sleep.
I have not managed to switch the TV out of the bedroom, but I have discovered what it might be like. When I visited friends, and slept in a guest bedroom, there was no TV. Amazingly, I drifted off earlier, and slept more soundly. The next day I felt more rested, energetic and focused.
Withdrawal from Work-Related Laptops
Similar things happen if you take a laptop to bed. One last email check, or addition to a project summary, may keep your mind focused on work, rather than the world of dreams found in restful sleep.
Scientists and doctors have made it clear that the mind works while we sleep. It does all sorts of mental clean-up, and maintenance. Without that period of rest, that healthy work does not get done, and we may function less effectively.
Letting go of electronics can change everything. Sleeping better could be the key to early rising, better work sessions, and more natural energy. Try a week. See what you think.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.