Technology curfew could prevent disturbed sleep
Experts are recommending that poor sleepers don’t excessively use electronic equipment whilst winding down for bedtime in a bid to prevent sleep disturbances.
According to a recent survey conducted in America, individuals who use mobile phones and computers just before bedtime could be sacrificing a good nights sleep.
Though the survey does not provide exclusive proof that light exposure before bed does cause disruption, experts have recommended a technology curfew one hour prior to bed. This meanings softening the lights, exchanging late night TV for a good book and putting your mobile phone to rest for the evening.
Sleep in America is an annual survey which is carried out by The National Sleep Foundation. The most recent survey involved 1,508 participants between the ages of 13 and 64, 63 per cent of whom reported that their sleep requirements were not being met.
Experts believe that a contributing factor to their lack of sleep could be put down to 95 per cent of participants using electronic devices such as televisions, computers, video games and mobile phones in the hour before they settled down into bed.
The figures showed that in the hour leading up to bedtime, two thirds of 30 to 64 year olds and half of 13 to 29 year olds watched TV most nights. In addition, 56 per cent of 13 to 18 year olds and 42 per cent of 19 to 29 year olds admitted to either sending of receiving text messages most nights. Further more, around one in five said that they had been woken up when sleeping after receiving a text message, phone call or email alert.
The study authors are recommending that in addition to the technology curfew, it is a good idea to also try and stick to a regular waking time.
If you are experiencing frequent disturbed sleep and have had little to no success in dealing with the issue then you may find hypnotherapy is something that could help you. To find out more about how hypnotherapy may be able to help, please visit our fact-sheet for further information, or visit our homepage and use the search tool to contact a qualified hypnotherapist in your local area.