Watching TV in bed is part of many people’s nighttime routine, but is it really that bad From a late-night movie to “just one more episode” of a new show, watching TV in bed is a part of many people’s wind-down routine before sleeping. However, we’re also regularly told that a dark, screen-free room is the ideal sleep environment. So is watching TV in bed really that bad for your slumber While there are numerous things you can do to aid sleep, including investing in the best mattress for your sleep style or keeping your bedroom at the optimum temperature, you may be wondering if these efforts will be derailed if you’re watching TV in bed. If you find that watching TV in bed helps you to unwind after a long day, you are not alone. According to a Belgian sleep study, watching TV in bed before sleep is a common part of many bedtime routines, with a third of adults reporting that they use television as a sleep aid. Watching TV in bed can be a help or a hindrance to getting enough good sleep,” she explains. “But if you don’t have any trouble falling asleep, you’re regularly getting enough good quality sleep, and TV in bed is relaxing for you, then by all means go ahead While some people find that watching TV helps them sleep, often dozing off in front of the box, this doesn’t necessarily mean the sleep they’re getting is of good quality — especially if the TV stays on while you’re fast asleep. If you have the TV on all night or for a significant amount of time while sleeping, it will interfere with sleep quality,” explains Dr Wu. “It will interrupt your sleep more, keeping you in lighter stages of sleep if you find that watching TV in bed is a fixture of your wind-down routine, try only watching relaxing shows instead of distressing or exhilarating content, such as the news or action movies. Dr Can also recommends watching your favorite or familiar shows, as they tend to be comforting and won’t pique excitement before trying to fall asleep. If you find watching TV is a relaxing bedtime ritual, but notice that you’re still suffering from fatigue or sleep disruptions when you cut down on that habit, you may want to consider a calming alternative. screen-free rituals such as taking a hot shower or bath, journaling or chatting with a “low-drama” friend, stretching, cuddling pets, reading, or listening to music or an audiobook. relaxation techniques like breathing exercises and visualization strategies for sleep, such as picturing yourself walking through a forest. If you use a TV as a distraction from racing thoughts, then she also suggests using other cognitive control techniques such as playing word games or doing simple mental arithmetic. However, if you find that watching TV in bed helps you to relax and unwind before it’s time to go to sleep, that doesn’t mean you have to give it up completely. Here, Dr Wu and Dr Can explain how you can watch TV in bed without it ruining your sleep.
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Saturday, January 18, 2025