Back in the day, I used to pride myself on my ability to sleep soundly. But then college happened. And then, post-college stress happened. And then smartphones happened. I jumped on the bandwagon a bit later than my friends, but by 2013, I had an iPhone. And after that point, my ability to sleep was toast. Simply put, when you’re laying in bed, online browsing is really tempting. And sometimes, “just a few minutes” on the phone can turn into an hour.
It’s not necessarily the phone itself that ruins sleep — it’s the blue light from the phone. According to Bustle, a new study from Cell Reports claims that there are light-sensitive cells located in your retina. Those cells contain something called melanopsin, which helps you process ambient light. That melanopsin reportedly regenerates for however long the light is present, and helps communicate with your body in a strange way.
If light is detected, your sleep changes based on signals sent to your brain. The human body really is an amazing thing, isn’t it?
Of course, while all of that is happening, a billion other body processes are taking place. LiveScience reports that not only does melatonin production slow down by about 85% during the night when lights are on, but blue light wavelengths can easily cause your body to go into alert mode.
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Since our bodies naturally respond to light from the sun, any sort of light can wrongfully tell our bodies that it’s time to get up and pay attention. So blue light exposure from your phone is like drinking a cup of coffee at 11 p.m. And unless you’re studying for a huge exam, that’s not the greatest idea.
Even though you know the facts, checking your phone or watching television before bed is still so hard to resist. But if you’re feeling more tired than ever, a new routine may be in the cards.