Technology vs. Sleep

Technology has enhanced communication and entertainment, but is it also a cause for a decline in sleep? New studies in Sleep Medicine Journal suggest that having technology in the bedroom serves as a distraction when people are trying to fall asleep, especially young children and preteens.

                The average preteen should get 10-11 consecutive hours of sleep each night to promote their growing bodies. Kids with access to computers, televisions, cell phones, and video games in their rooms, prior to going to sleep tend to get about nine hours of sleep, one to two hours less than those without the devices. Sleep Medicine reported that kids who frequently viewed TV before bed were four times more likely to report waking up several times during the night, than non-viewers, and frequent social networkers were three times more likely to wake up a lot. Kids who regularly played video games or listened to music at bedtime had significantly more difficulty falling asleep.

Children need boundaries for technology use. Medical experts suggest to remove these devices from the bedroom, and to withdraw from all interaction with technology at least an hour before going to sleep. When devices, such as cell phones, beep in the middle of the night, people are more inclined to get up and reply. While technology is helpful, the addiction to instantaneous information and the impulse to reply immediately is stronger than ever before.

Sleep needs to be held up to the same standards as eating healthy, too much indulgence in food is bad for the body, just as too much technology before bed is bad for sleep. Begin by limiting the amount of time kids spend with technology, especially during the later hours of the day. Try leaving all cell phones in the kitchen, turning the computer off after dinner or after homework, and keeping televisions in the common areas. Letting technology rest will allow for a better night’s sleep and more productive start to the next day.