It’s well known that using a smartphone in the evening can make going to sleep more difficult, due to the light emitted by the screen. However, new research indicates that regular smartphone use in general is also associated with less sleep. Smartphones are increasingly becoming an indispensable part of everyday life. However, poor sleep is…
Read more »
A pioneering study of worldwide sleep patterns combines math modeling, mobile apps and big data to parse the roles society and biology each play in setting sleep schedules. The study, led by University of Michigan mathematicians, used a free smartphone app that reduces jetlag to gather robust sleep data from thousands of people in 100…
Read more »
Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer? Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter. You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but…
Read more »
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times — it’s a bad idea to sleep with your smartphone. Despite that, people do it. In fact, according to a new survey, a vast majority of us do it. The new survey, commissioned by Bank of America, indicates that more than 70 percent of…
Read more »
Every day it seems there’s a new app available for smartphones that promises to give you all of the information you need on your sleep patterns, making you more educated and able to sleep better. It sounds good in theory, but in the end you’re better off without those apps. This isn’t a case of…
Read more »
It’s not news to say that many people around the U.S. and elsewhere in the world are stressed out right now. With COVID-19 spreading across the globe, if you don’t have the virus you’re likely concerned that you or a family member might get it. All of that stress is definitely not good for sleep. …
Read more »
Poor sleep habits and sleep disorders are very common in early childhood, especially in children exposed to multiple family and environmental risks like parental depression and poverty, say researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Focusing on otherwise healthy children ranging in age from two to five years old, researchers recruited 205 pairs of children…
Read more »
Sleep is easy for some, but for others it’s a chore to get to dreamland. Regardless of what type of sleeper you are, there are a handful of basic things that are needed to ensure you maximize your rest. A quiet place It’s pretty simple, really. It’s harder to sleep in a place where there’s…
Read more »
We’re at that the time of year when a lot of people take stock of themselves and try to figure out what they can improve. One thing that most people could work on is the amount of sleep they get each night. Research has shown that getting the right amount of shut-eye can improve your…
Read more »
Getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night is a struggle for most people, even for those who are trying. New research from Iowa State University finds more Americans have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. The changes were independent of sleep duration, and difficulties were most prevalent in people with healthy…
Read more »
New research suggests that children who do not sleep enough and use devices like computers and smartphones more than recommended are more likely to act impulsively and make poorer decisions. “Impulsive behavior is associated with numerous mental health and addiction problems, including eating disorders, behavioral addictions and substance abuse,” said Dr. Michelle Guerrero, lead author…
Read more »
One of the easiest things you can do to sleep better is to put your smartphone away about an hour before bed, and keep it away while you’re sleeping. The problem is that far too many of us can’t seem to do that. New research from Common Sense found that a staggering 68% of teens…
Read more »
New research shows that by limiting evening exposure to screens like those on smartphones and tablets for just one week, many sleep problems in teenagers can be reversed. Recent studies have indicated that exposure to too much evening light, particularly the blue light emitted from screens on smartphones, tablets and computers can affect the brain’s…
Read more »
New research into preschool sleeping habits is making a significant case for limiting TV time for young children. The new study by University of Massachusetts Amherst neuroscientist Rebecca Spencer and developmental science graduate student Abigail Helm found that preschoolers who watch TV sleep significantly less than those who don’t. More surprising, perhaps, was that 36…
Read more »
We are a nation (and largely, a world) that is completely addicted to our smartphones. It used to be when you walked into a restaurant or a bar, you saw people holding conversations. Nowadays, a significant percentage of those people are staring at their screens. It’s bad enough that states have had to pass new…
Read more »
There’s been a push over the last few years to get school systems to delay the start time for high schoolers, but one question keeps coming up. If the schools start later, will the students get more sleep, or will they just stay up later? A look at one school system shows it’s the former…
Read more »
What is your teenager doing when they’re supposed to be sleeping? The majority of parents say they’re staring at their screens. According to a new survey, 56-percent of parents of teens who have sleep troubles believe it’s because of electronic devices like smartphones. Not being able to stay off electronics – including social media and…
Read more »
About a quarter of U.S. adults suffer from insomnia, which significantly impacts their quality of life. But, it’s not just the individual that suffers. Estimates put the burden of insomnia on the U.S. economy at a whopping $63 billion per year in lost productivity, increased health care expenses and costs associated with workplace errors and accidents….
Read more »
The light emitted by portable electronic devices (PEDs), particularly when used at night, has drawn a great deal of interest recently. The main concern is over the short-wavelength “blue” light emitted by smartphones, tablets, and even televisions. Exposure to what some call “light at night” (or LAN) can acutely suppress melatonin, a hormone produced at night and…
Read more »
There’s good news and bad news for Americans and sleep. The good news is that we’re finally getting more sleep. Congratulations! The bad news, however, is that it’s still not enough. “Over 14 years [2003 to 2016], Americans were getting 17 minutes more sleep every night, or a full four days more sleep per year,”…
Read more »
Sleep trackers are the newest tool that people and doctors are using to get an idea of what’s going on while we sleep, or why we don’t sleep. The problem is that the people who are using them are primarily those who don’t need them as much — those who are healthy or have the…
Read more »
Nine out of 10 Americans use devices like smartphones and laptops in the hour before bed, even though it can lead to insomnia. Since we’re unlikely to change, scientists are looking for ways to reduce the chance of this sleep-stealing behavior. Smartphones, tablets and other light-emitting devices are lit by LEDs, which have a peak…
Read more »
Most Americans don’t sleep enough, but according to a new study, our teenagers are sleeping even less than adults. A new study finds that the possible reason is that young people are trading their sleep for smartphone time. Most sleep experts agree that adolescents need 9 hours of sleep each night to be engaged and…
Read more »
Labor Day has come and gone and it’s time to get back into the fall routine. The kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter, and it won’t be long before the leaves start changing colors. Autumn has always been an ideal time to step back and look at your family’s needs. Getting…
Read more »
We know that the blue light emitted from smartphones, tablets, a some computers and televisions can make it harder to go to sleep at night. But, new research shows that it can also harm your sleep quality. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Houston College of Optometry, found that blue light could…
Read more »
Problems with the blue light emitted by devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and even some TVs has been well documented. They include a variety of symptoms, including problems sleeping. Researchers now say they may have a solution. An exciting publication based on ongoing research on macular carotenoids from the University of Georgia demonstrates that…
Read more »
If you’ve ever had insomnia, you know worrying about sleep makes it even harder to fall asleep. For the 30 percent of breast cancer survivors who have insomnia, sleepless nights can lead to depression, fatigue and a heightened risk of disease. Now, new UCLA research shows that tai chi, a form of slow-moving meditation, is…
Read more »
An analysis of 35 popular smartphone-based sleep apps finds that while most help users set sleep-related goals and track and manage their sleep, few make use of other methods known to help the chronically sleep-deprived. Many of the apps soothe users with nature sounds, calming music, colors and images. Some also offer white noise, guided…
Read more »
The urge is strong to binge watch one more Netflix show, read just a few more Facebook posts, or answer a couple more texts. It can keep you from getting into your bed far later than you should. But, do you think that would change if you didn’t have TV a laptop, a smartphone, or…
Read more »
Filling the day with natural light and the night with true darkness for as little as a weekend can have a profound impact on how well we fall asleep and stay asleep, according to new research from the Colorado University. “These studies suggest that our internal clock responds strongly and quite rapidly to the…
Read more »
Sleeping definitely gets more difficult as you get older. With that in mind, a new report has loads of sleep tips designed specifically for those who are older than 50. The report is authored by the Global Council on Brain Health, a group convened by the AARP, and looks at the link between brain health and…
Read more »
Researchers have developed a new system to evaluate sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) without a trip to a sleep lab. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have developed a new system to assess obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity while a patient is awake and analyze sleep-wake activity, using his or her smartphone….
Read more »
A new study has found that children using screen-based media devices such as smartphones and tablets at bedtime more than double the risk of inadequate sleep compared to children without access to such a device. The study, conducted at Cardiff University, comprised a systematic review of 20 existing observational studies, involving 125,198 children, also found…
Read more »
It’s been proven over the last few years that using smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even televisions before bed can negatively impact your sleep. The blue light emitted by the screens tells your brain that it’s time to wake up, when in fact it’s actually time to sleep. However, a new study is showing that plenty…
Read more »
A research team from Oxford University has learned that going green may help your sleep. The researchers, led by Dr Stuart Peirson from Oxford’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute were aiming to understand why exposing mice to bright light caused two very different responses. ‘When we expose mice to light during the night, it causes them to…
Read more »
We’ve said for years that using your electronic devices before bed (or worse, while you’re in bed) is a really bad idea. The reason for this is that screens like the ones on smartphone, tablets, computers, and even televisions emit blue light, which has been shown to be a trigger to your brain that it’s…
Read more »
If you know a teenager, you most likely know that it’s hard to separate them from their smartphones. And, teen dedication to texting and instant messaging is hurting their sleep and their grades, according to a new study conducted at Rutgers University. The study, published in the Journal of Child Neurology, is the first of…
Read more »
The closest relative of humans, the chimpanzee, averages eleven-and-a-half hours of sleep per day. Meanwhile, many other mammals need a good bit more. Why is it that we only need seven or eight hours per night? Researchers from Duke University scoured the scientific literature and compiled a database of slumber patterns across hundreds of mammals —…
Read more »
While some smartphones have a nighttime “do not disturb” setting, a sleep expert has looked at the brightness of new phone screens and says that’s not enough. The ongoing problem with having smartphones, tablets, and even flat panel TVs in the bedroom is that they emit a wavelength of blue light that disrupts the body…
Read more »
It’s been said many times that modern humans don’t sleep nearly enough, and it’s also been said that technology is the reason. Modern conveniences from the television and smartphones to simple things like the light bulb have conspired to keep us up later and later at night, when our ancestors would have been asleep for…
Read more »
This time of year, the first week or two of the school year, many kids are walking around sleepy because they’re adjusting to a stricter sleep schedule than they had all summer. Normally, that situation corrects itself as kids come home from school exhausted and go to bed on time or even early. But, in general, how can…
Read more »
It’s been well documented on this site (here, here, and here, for example) that sleeping with a smartphone nearby is not a recipe for good sleep. While it has some benefits, such as using the phone as an alarm clock, the negatives outweigh the positives. Yet, still people continue to do it. Now, what would you…
Read more »
Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer? Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter. You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but we are not…
Read more »
A new survey shows Americans understand why sleep is important, but when confronted with how much they’re supposed to sleep, they’re not so enthusiastic about it. The survey, administered by the Better Sleep Council (BSC), shows that the way sleep is framed influences the way people feel about it. When asked about how important sleep…
Read more »
Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer? Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter. You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but we are not…
Read more »
We don’t know many teens who don’t love staring at screens, whether those screens are attached to TVs, computers, tablets, or smartphones. New research is confirming, however, just how damaging those screens can be to teen sleep. Researchers surveyed more than 10,000 16-to-19-year-olds from Norway, questioning them about their use of electronics and sleeping habits….
Read more »
Did your son or daughter just get a new smartphone or tablet from Santa? If so, you may find that your child isn’t sleeping as well. A new study conducted at the University of California in Berkeley, and published in the journal Pediatrics, indicated that children who sleep with a smartphone or other handheld device slept less…
Read more »
Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer? Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter. You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but…
Read more »
When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, modern computer and smartphone screens are the worst invention since the electric light. But, how can we avoid them without throwing our technology away and living like it’s the mid-1980s? The screens you look at when working or playing on your laptop, desktop, tablet computer or…
Read more »
This is the latest installment of a regular feature here at SleepBetter.org: Sleep Myth Monday, where we bust sleep myths wide open, or verify that they’re actually not myths at all. Myth or Truth: Humans are one of only a handful of animals known to willingly delay sleep. MYTH Humans are the ONLY animal known to…
Read more »
It shouldn’t be a shock that a lot of us don’t get enough sleep, but a new survey conducted in Britain is a bit alarming. The survey, conducted on behalf of a professor at the University of Hertfordshire, found that 59% of the respondents get fewer than seven hours of sleep each night. The recommended amount…
Read more »
For years, we’ve published articles here at SleepBetter that warn about having smartphones and tablets turned on in the bedroom while it’s sleep time (a search on SleepBetter for “smartphones” uncovers quite a few of them) but a new survey indicates that it’s still a widespread practice. According to the survey, conducted by the UK regulatory…
Read more »
New research shows that kids who unplug before bed not only sleep better, but also sleep a lot more. Researchers analyzed surveys on sleep and technology habits completed by 738 students at seven randomly selected schools in the Midlands region of England in 2010. They found that kids ages 11 to 13 slept significantly less when…
Read more »
This is the latest installment of a regular feature here at SleepBetter.org: Sleep Myth Monday, where we bust sleep myths wide open, or verify that they’re actually not myths at all. Myth or Truth: Watching TV right before bed may actually keep you from sleeping well. TRUTH Activities involving electronic “screens” like televisions, tablet computers,…
Read more »
A scientist from Harvard University says we need to develop behavioral and technological ways to counteract the damage that artificial light is doing to our sleeping patterns. And, he says the situation is likely to get worse if something isn’t done. Writing in the journal Nature, Charles Czeisler, a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School, said artificial…
Read more »
A new survey conducted in Britain shows just how bad our obsession with our electronic devices is getting. The research, conducted by a British hotel chain, found that one in five (20%) people in Britain keep their phone in their bed or even under their pillow every single night, to ensure they don’t miss a single…
Read more »
New research is confirming that using your laptop, tablet, or smartphone in the hours before bedtime could lead to a less restful night. The research, conducted at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, showed that two hours of iPad use at maximum brightness was enough to suppress normal nighttime release of melatonin,…
Read more »
If you’ve read SleepBetter articles before, it shouldn’t be news that reducing the amount of time you spend in front of the TV, a handheld device like a tablet or smartphone, or a gaming system right before bed can help you get a better night’s sleep. A new study, however, confirms that for kids and…
Read more »
Actress Krysten Ritter loves her sleep. As with nearly all busy people, however, it can sometimes be a challenge for her to get a full night’s rest. In addition to her partnership with us on the Great American Pillow Toss event in Detroit, Ms. Ritter has a starring role in ABC’s Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, is…
Read more »
A recent study is flying in the face of logic by suggesting that technologies such as smartphones and tablet computers are not keeping us up at night. Tesearchers at the University of Sidney in Australia compared the average hours of sleep for people between the years 1992 and 2006. After looking over all of the data,…
Read more »
The popularity of Facebook, Twitter, and accessibility of smartphones have made socializing and reaching out to one another easier than ever, but are they keeping sleep out of reach? More than half of the respondents in a recent study, commissioned by a U.K.-based Internet provider, admit to having ‘e-anxiety’. As a result, they’re staying up later because…
Read more »
Sometimes we have questions for a doctor, but don’t want to make an appointment to ask them. Because of that, we created Ask Dr. Lisa! We pick out sleep-related questions submitted on our Facebook Page, and send them to our medical sleep expert, Dr. Lisa Shives, for an answer. In this installment, Dr. Lisa talks…
Read more »
We’ve talked about it before here on SleepBetter.org, but a new survey has some eye-opening stats related to smartphone usage and sleep. Smartphones are devices that not only allow you to make phone calls, but also send and receive email and texts, log in to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and even play…
Read more »
At first glance, the headline above seems silly. Of course sleep is more important. Sleep deprivation can bring on a host of physical and emotional problems. However, if it’s truly that obvious, why are many of us letting our phone get in the way of sleeping properly? With an increase in the use of phones…
Read more »
At first glance, the headline above seems silly. Of course sleep is more important. Sleep deprivation can bring on a host of physical and emotional problems. However, if it’s truly that obvious, why are many of us letting our phone get in the way of sleeping properly? With an increase in the use of phones…
Read more »
We’ve warned about how blue light can impact your sleep patterns more than once here at SleepBetter.org. Word is out this week, however, that exposure to green light can be just as bad. It’s been known for some time that exposure to blue light, which is emitted in abundant amounts by electronics like televisions and…
Read more »
We probably all know someone who is prone to staying up late playing on the computer. A new study shows that Facebook and Twitter “addicts” are going one step further — they’re actually checking the social media sites while in bed. A new study from electronics marketplace Retrovo.com asked social media users about how often…
Read more »
For a lot of people, the holiday season means traveling long distances to visit friends or relatives. While we may look forward to this time of year, the travel itself can be exhausting. Sleeping in a car or (even worse) an airplane can be difficult or even seemingly impossible, and if you’re traveling long distances…
Read more »
Copyright 2022 Carpenter Co. All Rights Reserved.
Created by Carpenter Co.
