We are “plugged in” to our electronics to the point of being detrimental to our sleep and health.
Recently, the National Sleep Foundation released the results of their Annual Sleep in America poll. The bottom line is that many people aren’t getting a good night’s sleep. The survey found that 43% of Americans say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep during the week. An astonishing 60% say they experience a sleep problem, such as waking too early, snoring or waking up not feeling refreshed, every night.
And while part of the problem is our busy lives, families and jobs that require round the clock attention, another is the fact that we are “plugged in” to our electronics to the point of being detrimental to our sleep and health. Almost everyone surveyed (95%) used some type of electronics at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed. All of our gadgets, including cell phones, tablets, laptops, gaming systems and streaming TV lure us away from our pillows and trick our brains into thinking it is still daytime due to the bright lights.
“Unfortunately cell phones and computers, which make our lives more productive and enjoyable, may also be abused to the point that they contribute to getting less sleep at night, leaving millions of Americans functioning poorly the next day,” said Russell Rosenberg, vice chairman of the foundation. It’s time to unplug!
As you age, your body naturally loses its ability to produce melatonin, the hormone responsible for initiating and maintaining sleep. Under normal circumstances, the pineal gland, a pea-size organ in your brain, begins to release melatonin a few hours before your bedtime. Its job is not to put you to sleep, but it reduces alertness and puts your body in a state of readiness for sleep. Light of any kind, but particularly the blue emitted from electronic devices, interferes with the release of melatonin from the pineal gland. You don’t even have to be looking at the light directly – if your partner is working into the wee hours – the soft glow can be enough to interfere with your sleep as well.
The good news is that if you reintroduce melatonin into your system, your occasional sleep issues may improve. Sublingual Sleep from Dr. Newton’s Naturals is an all-natural way to provide your body with the melatonin it needs so you can “unplug.” You’ll fall asleep faster and stay asleep so you wake up feeling refreshed. In order to get the best sleep possible, remove electronic devices from the bedroom. Charge your phone in another room so you’re not tempted to check your email “one last time.” Avoid watching TV in the hour or so before going to bed. Making these small adjustments can have a huge impact on the quality of your sleep.