Most Americans Lose Sleep Due to 'Digital Distractions.' Experts Offer Tips to Help
By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
SATURDAY, Dec. 9, 2023 -- It has likely happened to everyone at some point: You are poised to go to sleep, but instead a "digital distraction" keeps you up hours later than you had planned.
"Bedtime procrastination is a common problem, as people often stay up later than intended while binge-watching a program or shopping online,” said sleep medicine physician Dr. Alexandre Abreu, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
“With so many digital distractions vying for our time, it can be tempting to watch one more episode or scroll through one more viral video, but anything that keeps us from getting the recommended seven hours of sleep each night can be harmful to overall health and well-being,” Abreu added in an AASM news release.
A recent AASM survey pinpointed the scope of the problem: Ninety-one percent of those surveyed said they have lost sleep because they stayed up past their bedtime to binge-watch a TV show. Meanwhile, 75 percent said browsing and buying online is also keeping them up at night.
The AASM offers the following guidance on how to keep digital disruptions at bay and sleep better in the process:
-
Disconnect from devices at night: Turn off all electronics at least 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.
-
Leave your phone in another room: It's tempting to go on your phone while in bed, so keep it in a separate room at night. If you use your phone for a morning alarm, consider an alarm clock instead.
-
Follow a relaxing nighttime routine: Take a warm bath or shower, read a book or do some journaling before bed.
-
Have a sleep schedule: Go to bed and get up at the same time on a regular basis. Don’t let online scrolling get in the way of precious hours of sleep.
-
Turn off push notifications: If you must have your phone in your bedroom at night, turn off push notifications and sound to avoid distracting alerts.
Sources
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine, news release, Dec. 4, 2023
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
![](/img/logo/vendor/healthday-logo.png)
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2023
Read this next
Irregular Sleep Could Raise Your Odds for Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2024 (HeathDay News) -- Sleeping long hours one night but only a few hours the next can be unhealthy, with a new study finding "irregular" sleep patterns could...
Are You & Your Partner in a 'Sleep Divorce?' You're Not Alone
WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2024 -- Many couples may be painfully familiar with the scenario: One partner snores loudly all night long, so the other partner seeks better sleep in another...
Does Exercise Near Bedtime Really Disrupt Sleep? Maybe Not
WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2024 -- Exercise near bedtime won’t necessarily wreck a person’s sleep, a new study says. Intense exercise is typically discouraged as bedtime...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.