Counting Electric Sheep - Sleep in the age of social media
Has your ability to sleep been effected by your use of social media and other forms of technology? We have an easy fix for that and it doesn’t include an extreme digital detox…
The body is run by an internal clock (the circadian rhythms) that controls levels of different hormones, telling us when to be alert and when to sleep. Ganglion receptors in the eyes take in current levels of light, and the brain makes a guess at the time of day. Human body clocks are affected by blue light and anything brighter than a standard low-Watt light bulb. Your body thinks its dawn, which interferes with the production of melatonin, a hormone involved in sleep regulation, affecting both the quantity and quality of sleep.
To get your full eight hours (yes, it is possible to get those eight hours back), experts tell us to keep away from electronic devices for more than an hour before bed. We know sometimes that just isn’t possible. Luckily, the tech world has lent a helping hand: Red light signifies to your body that dusk is coming in. This is why iPhones have ‘Night Shift’ on their brightness setting, the Twilight app works for Android phones, and f.lux for laptops: all work to dim your screen’s light, and shift the colours to a warmer, less affecting tone.
So, you need to do 2 things to regain control of your sleep, your hormones, and your day:
👆 Start the day well: Reach for a glass of water first thing in the morning instead of your phone. Replenish your fluids before triggering your brain. ✌ End the day well: Enable Night Mode on your phone and laptop.