Televisions have been a part of our family since we can remember. At least for the millennials, who have found solace in the blue screen many times. Be it during the long summer breaks with nothing to do or when the whole family sat down together for their favorite shows. But whatever it may do or be, there are some times when watching T.V. is just not right. And one of the times that falls into this category is the period just before sleeping.
Sadly, the millennial’s habit of scrolling through the screen right before sleeping, watching movies to fall asleep, or the most common one, sitting in front of the television before retiring to bed, is not going to cease.
Contents
The Direct Harms
Your body is a hub of activity. When you are up or in deep slumber, the body continuously processes and carries out actions for your well-being. That is why your body requires optimum activity as well as sleep to maintain a healthy balance. With the screen radiations, engaging shows, and content, the television alters people’s sleep cycle. The direct impact of this is:
- The screen light does not enable your body to produce enough melatonin, a hormone produced in darkness only. The hormone regulates the internal clock, or in other words, the sleep-wake cycle of your body.
- Engaging shows keep your mind alert, making it difficult to fall asleep.
- Disturbing contents may create an emotional turmoil leading to no sleep or insufficient sleep.
All actions have a counteraction in our body, which eventually leads to a cascade of effects.
The Secondary Effects Of Watching T.V. Before Sleeping Include
- Losing sleep or not having quality sleep.
- Fatigue
- If you find yourself losing track of what and how much you eat in front of the television, then you are not alone. Most people find themselves eating more while watching shows, as engrossed in the show, they often don’t understand the filled feeling. Thus, it is why it is advised not to watch T.V. while eating. Instead, have a family time where you can bond over.
These Effects Take A Toll On The Body Leading To Several Long-term Consequences
- The body rejuvenates itself by producing antibodies and other substances of need during sleep. Lack of sleep decreases their production manifold, making you susceptible to various infections due to a weakened immune system.
- Constant fatigue or tiredness keeps you on edge. You are easily irritable, anxious, and fail to keep up with the workload.
- Many hormones work as weights against each other. One such is leptin and ghrelin, hormones regulating feelings of hunger and fullness. This is the reason many tend to eat or have snack cravings during midnight.
- Lack of sleep (also implies lack of melatonin) is also related to poor cardiovascular health.
- It leads to failing memories.
[NOTE: The above effects are a result of prolonged sleep deprivation]
The Irony Of Today’s Time
Though T.V. may have taken a back seat in today’s time, especially concerning the older generation. They have taken preference for other electronic devices like laptops or cell phones.
Well, a millennial’s life is intricately connected with the devices today. It is hard to separate personal and professional worlds with things revolving around the devices and devices being a part of life. A fast-paced life has also led to a shift towards children being exposed to devices early on. With tablets catering to their needs or shows to engage them, parents are often leaving the toddlers.
Moreover, many people use television as a measure to sleep. Though it may prove effective to you, studies have not found sufficient evidence to prove the same. All studies point to the negative impact of watching any devices that emit artificial light.
The Age-bracket Wise Effects
The artificial screen affects differently depending on exposure and the resultant sleep deprivation it leads to. The degree of severity increases manifolds in the children than the adults or even the late teenagers. This is because the content may severely impact their young minds, leading to trauma that may end with nightmares, sleepwalking, insomnia. There are substantial studies that link these aftermaths to the usage of devices from early on.
Conclusion
Ideally, you should turn off the T.V. at least 30 minutes before you go to bed. Developing a healthy bedtime routine might seem somewhat burdensome to begin or too tired to continue, especially when everything revolves around the blue screen today. But a healthy habit pitches in its good luck, adding years to your life.
