Does browsing your phone before bed affect sleep? Experts weigh in

Smartphones are among the most popular devices in the world. It's hard to imagine life without them. We just click an icon to contact loved ones or check the information we're curious about.

We use it all day long, including before sleep. Many researchers discourage this practice due to the blue light emitted by smartphone screens. Does browsing the phone make it harder to fall asleep? Scientists have doubts about this.

The mobile phone is one of the first things we reach for after waking up. Before bed, we're tempted to check social media or play a game. In recent years, much has been said about smartphones' harmfulness. Many scientists claim that using the phone before sleep makes it harder to fall asleep.

The reason is the so-called blue light emitted by electronic device screens. This type of light disrupts the production of melatonin, known as the sleep hormone. Blue light signals to the brain that it is day, not night, making it harder to fall asleep, even when feeling tired. Therefore, many experts recommend avoiding phone use for at least an hour before sleep.

In recent years, several studies have been conducted to determine if using the phone before sleep makes it harder to fall asleep. The results of these studies were inconclusive. Some indicated it is harder to fall asleep after browsing the smartphone, while others did not show significant differences between those who browse the phone and those who do not before sleep.

In such situations, it is best to do a simple test, which may improve our sleep quality. It's worth trying to give up browsing the phone before sleep for a week. After this period, you can assess whether it is easier to fall asleep and whether the sleep quality has improved. There is a good chance it will – if we stop bombarding ourselves with information or playing engaging games before sleep, we will probably fall asleep better.