Falling asleep with the TV on might not be the sleep sin we’ve been told it is. According to sleep specialists, it might actually be helpful for some people. “It’s not that TV is helping them sleep. It’s that it’s become a part of their wind-down habit,” explains sleep medicine specialist Dr. Chester Wu. When combined with other healthy sleep practices, like going to bed at a consistent time, watching TV before bed can even support better sleep.
Despite concerns about blue light, new research suggests the light from TVs may not be as bad as we once feared. “Of the screen-based activities people engage in before bed, watching TV is the least disruptive,” says Dr. Michael Gradisar, who adds that delaying bedtime, not blue light, is often the bigger issue. TV is passive and less interactive than smartphones, making it less likely to overstimulate the brain. Plus, it can help distract from stress and overthinking, a major cause of sleeplessness for a lot of people.
If you do watch TV before bed, sleep doctors recommend the following:
- Use a sleep timer to shut off the TV after 30–60 minutes
- Keep the volume low and screen dim
- Angle the screen away from your eyes
- Stick to calm, familiar shows
- Avoid wearing headphones
- Don’t let TV time cut into your sleep hours
- Pair it with other good habits like avoiding caffeine, keeping your room cool, and limiting naps
Ultimately, as Dr. Wu puts it, “Listen to your body and watch its patterns,” and, in the end, do what helps you feel most rested.
Source: Huff Post