Do you have trouble going to sleep at night? Do you somehow end up on your smartphone doing one thing or another? In recent years, technology has become such a huge part of our daily lives and activities and it is extremely hard to put our gadgets down, even when it’s time to rest!  Whether you’re surfing the web, looking at memes on Instagram, or viewing stories on Snapchat, you’re probably keeping yourself from a restful night’s sleep.

Studies suggest that if you use your mobile phone, laptop or any other device before bed, the bright blue light from the screen may be preventing your body from producing melatonin. Melatonin. What exactly is Melatonin? Interestingly enough, when we find ourselves in dark environments, our bodies produce a hormone whose primary effect is to make us sleepy – Melatonin!

The bright blue light from your mobile phone screen tricks our brain into thinking it is still daylight, which prevents the release of Melatonin. This not only makes it more difficult to go to sleep, but it also affects your quality of sleep.

Sleep deprivation is associated with various health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and more. Additionally, it affects one’s cognitive abilities and emotional state.

(Image Source: https://onsizzle.com/i/im-going-to-sleep-w-when-does-the-internet-sleep-wait-10187209)

We all know we need to get enough sleep to get us through each day and here are just a few benefits of sleeping:

• Sleep boosts your immune system. Getting too little sleep affects your immune system tremendously which prevents your body from fighting against bacteria and viruses; making you more likely to catch a cold or flu.
• Sleep may help you maintain a healthy weight. Studies suggest that people who get less than seven hours of sleep per night tend to gain more weight and are at higher risk of becoming obese. Sleep deprivation causes a lack of the hormone leptin, which tells your brain that your belly is full.
• Sleep helps prevent chronic illnesses and heart disease. Studies conclude that people who sleep less than five hours are at an increased rate of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Let’s start taking care of our bodies and fight the temptation to scroll through social media or the internet when we should be resting our bodies. We owe it to ourselves to let our bodies rest. Put the blue light down!