Does screen time before bed affect my sleep?

Studies have shown that the blue light from a smartphone, tablet, or computer screen can suppress your body's production of melatonin, which is a hormone connected with falling asleep.

The Caraway Care Team

November 8, 2022

You've probably heard about blue light before – maybe in arguments about late night screen time and the effects on your sleep. But is it really a problem? 

The short answer: yes! Studies have shown that the blue light from a smartphone, tablet, or computer screen can suppress your body's production of melatonin, which is a hormone connected with falling asleep. Also, watching something on a screen before bed is likely to cause you to stay up later than you normally would, because streaming services make it so easy to just watch another episode, and this means you're probably getting less sleep. 

So, if you want to improve your sleep, try to put your phone away once you start getting ready for bed and instead wind down by reading or journaling.

Reviewed by Sara Levine, MD, MPH, FAAP, Medical Director of Adolescent Medicine and Marissa Branson, LCSW, Mental Health Therapist

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