The Bedside Phone Effect: Understanding Its Impact
These days, in this digital era, no one can imagine their life without a smartphone literally as our mobile always sleep beside us on the bed or somewhere else. And the Bedside Phone Effect, as I like to call it possesses so many aspects that impact on our nightly routines and general wellness.
Constantly Distracted by Notifications
As our phones are buzzing with notifications at all hours of the night. Be it a text from a friend, post on social media or work mailers — these notifications break our peace and don’t allow us to wind down. Waiting for the next message can continually get us to check our phones and keep us awake, when we should really be settling down.
The Dangers of Blue Light
Another significant factor in the Bedside Phone Effect is the exposure to unnatural blue light emitted from our devices. This type of light has been shown to interfere with our circadian rhythms, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Our bodies produce melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, but blue light can inhibit its production. As a result, scrolling through our feeds at bedtime can lead to sleepless nights and hinder our ability to wake up refreshed.
The Temptation to Scroll
Scrolling is active, and it will have you wasting hours on end in a trance more times than not. Platforms are built to imprison us with a continuous flow of things. While it allows us to scroll endlessly through other existences, our own time could be better spent doing things that are realistic and can positively affect out mental health. Staring at our screens leads to anxiety and a mind that’s always on, which makes it hard for us put the device down before bed.
Finding Balance
In order to decrease the negative effects of this Bedside Phone Effect, steps need to be taken to plant seeds for a more flourishing relationship. Sticking to a time when we go off all of our devices before sleep could help tell our brain it is the right time for us. In addition the “Do not Disturb” features or disabling notifications can help to temporarily relieve yourself from distractions.
Conclusion
The Bedside Phone Effect is a fact of life. When we know what’s in it — notifications, blue light and the desire to scroll forever — then we can plan how not many phones will spend time with us as darkness falls. Although one will make the use of intentional habits around our smartphone, they can have a positive effect on daily life and ultimately lead to better sleep. We need to take our evenings back, and as a solution ponder towards achieving that balance between digital life and real-life in the most conducive manner.