Why you Should stop Bringing your gadgets to bed

Often time we wake up in the morning feeling more tired than when we went to bed at night, Well according to experts the reason you're having trouble getting out of bed in the morning but wide awake in the evening may be as a result of your late-night technology affinity.

Oh don't get me wrong, there could be other contributing factors – like anxiety, diet, caffeine consumption and age – but ironically, the devices you’re unwinding with in bed could be keeping you up.

Night light

Not only could bringing your smartphone or tablet affect how fast you fall asleep, but you might not stay asleep peacefully either.

To fall asleep, your body needs an increase in a hormone called melatonin. Problem is, a backlit phone or tablet decreases melatonin production.

On a related note, those who keep a TV on while sleeping might also be affecting the quality of their sleep as any light that comes through the eyelids could increase melatonin.

Experts say a non-backlit ebook reader or regular book with bedside lamp is a better way to go.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).

A related issue with bringing work to bed – phones, tablets, and laptops – is you’re not giving yourself a break from being connected. It’s a condition often referred to as “fear of missing out,” or “FOMO,” for short.

You might want to see what people on social media are chatting about. You hear the “ping” of a text or email after you’ve closed your eyes and so you reach for your device to see who’s writing. There’s a group chat going on and it’s killing you not to be part of it.

Even if you put your device on airplane mode, you might still be tempted to peek if it’s nearby. It’s recommended to leave the gadgets in another room.

Wireless waves

While the research isn’t conclusive, another concern with bringing devices to bed is tied to the radiation they emit.

We know wireless smartphones and tablets emit Wi-Fi and/or cellular signals – which is why experts say not to hold one up against your head for long periods of time – so do you really want to be sleeping with one beside your pillow all night? Do your tweens or teens go to sleep with their devices?

Because we just don’t know the long-term effects, many are erring on the side of caution and leaving them out of the bedroom altogether – or at least putting these devices into Airplane mode.

How to sleep better:

Soundscapes

Not everyone who brings a smartphone or tablet to bed has trouble falling and staying asleep.

In fact, many rely on audio-based smartphone or tablet apps to induce relaxation while your eyes are closed.

Spend some time at the App Store or Google Play and there’s no shortage of downloadable apps ranging from mediation walkthroughs to relaxing “soundscapes” (like crashing waves, tropical sounds or rainstorms) to jetlag apps designed to help tired travelers.

And then there’s audio podcasts and audiobooks you can listen to with the light’s out.

Fitness

Finally, not only could exercise help you sleep better and be more energized for another day, today’s fitness bands and smartwatches could also help you track your overnight patterns.