I’ve come to the conclusion that I have a little problem at night. Like most people, I keep my phone in the bedroom, and it has become a real issue lately. I’m noticing that it’s only getting worse as time goes on.
Here’s what happens (what I didn’t mention in my nighttime routine post), just about every single night…. it’s about 10pm, and I’m in bed, with all intentions to sleep, to get those very much needed Zzz’s. I’m lying there, in bed, with my iPhone glued to my right hand. Scrolling through my Instagram feed, opening emails that came in after dinner, and catching up on the news. I decide it’s time for sleep, after all, an hour just passed. But before I do so, I need to check Instagram one last time. And then reply to that text a friend just sent… now it’s super late, and wayyyy past when I originally intended to go to sleep. And the cycle continues.
Here are the three reasons I’m now keeping my phone in the kitchen overnight:
1. BLUE LIGHT
Exposing yourself to the blue light of a device (phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) is a great way to ensure that your quality of sleep will be decreased. Mainly because it effects hormonal responses and suppresses melatonin secretion — delaying sleep. And yes, that even includes iOS 9.3’s new feature Night Shift, which adjusts the colors in your display to be on the warmer end of the spectrum.
2. OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND
The bedroom should be a peaceful, relaxing space where work doesn’t overlap into. Leaving your phone in another room will give your brain something else to focus on. Like decompressing from the day, chatting with your partner, reading, meditating, writing, etc. If your phone isn’t in plain sight, sitting on your nightstand, there’s no temptation to check the email the that just came in, or reply to that text, or see how many likes that photo just got. Save it for the morning, when you’re fresh.
3. HAPPIER MORNINGS
Grabbing and checking your phone, all those missed notifications overnight, won’t be the very first thing you do in the morning. You’ll have time to revel in the peace and quiet that is the morning, until you get up, and start your day. Instead of the instant checking, you’ll be giving yourself a beautiful morning gift, that of some space and calmness to get through the day ahead.
I decided to take action, and put my foot D-O-W-N. And by that, I mean, I am banishing technology (or rather, just my phone…) out of the bedroom. So, I bought an alarm clock from Target, and giving it a go this week.
What are your thoughts on phones in the bedroom?