No doubt that we are living in the digital generation. With every technological advancement, various fields of life, such as business, education, trading, and healthcare, equally develop to match the standards set forth. This eventually leads to positive growth and development in most sections of the economy. Yet, in one way or the other, our health status continues to deteriorate from interacting with too much technology. This digital generation suffers the silent implications of technology such as body reaction, brain functionality alteration, as well as too much exposure to screen lights. Constant exposure to these aspects of technology could result in insomnia in the following five ways.
Brain’s Responsiveness
The first method that this technological era affects sleep is by altering how your brain responds to various stimuli. The reason you are bound to suffer insomnia after too much exposure to digital technology is the cognitive stimulation. Usually, your brain is designed to initiate activity as soon as you focus on any digital screen. Once this happens, rather than falling asleep, you stay up in bed. You cannot go to bed when your brain is not settled. The more you think, the higher the production of neurons in mind. This, in turn, makes you lose the desired sleep.
Body’s Reaction
Your mind is not the only aspect of your body being engaged in the digital screen. When you are playing a game on the mobile device, for instance, you will develop a flight or fight mode. Your body will begin responding both consciously and subconsciously, depending on the content of the digital screen. Two of the most effective strategies that I use when it comes to how to fix my sleep schedule are relaxing and cooling off. As a result, your body naturally produces Cortisol. This is a stress hormone that can deny you a good sleep.
Heightened Stimulation
This point brings us to the discussion of cognitive stimulation. As is the nature of the brain, when the time for rest comes, you will feel the need to unwind, you can rest at night or during the day depending on your work, family or education program. However, because technology keeps growing by the second, rather than the mind relaxing and winding off when you are about to sleep, your brain shifts to a cognitive stimulation of your activities during the day. An excellent example to consider here is how digital marketing has taken local and foreign trade to the next level of production and interaction. This is, indeed, the digital era.
Device’s Light
Certain lights could potentially alter your sleep patterns. A good example is blue light. While it may not have occurred to you, this light could be perfect during the day, but at night, it leads to the delayed production of melatonin—the sleep-inducing hormone. This light affects the retina and the hypothalamus and other parts of the brain that control sleeping and resting activities. A modern study reveals that, on average, everyone uses their mobile devices for up to 11 hours every 24 hours. Many technological devices emit other potentially hazardous rays and lights that affect far more than a night of simple sleep.
Extra Activity Distractions and Absolutions
The digital era has made it possible to access everything by the tap of your finger at the convenience of your bed. However, the more you use digital devices before bed or in bed, the higher the sleep distraction. A good example is studying online or reading a virtual novel. Rather than focusing on completing one chapter for the night, you may get distracted to keep going for the whole book. The same happens to games, exams, and any other online activity.
What You Can Do About Lack of Sleep
Insomnia that is caused by technological activities is easy to control. All that you have to do is limit your exposure to digital and online devices. Ideally, you can develop a different sleeping schedule that you can tailor to meet the standards of your life and routine. Several ideas you can use to improve the quality of your sleep include, but are not limited to, training three to four times every week, avoiding napping during the day, develop a regular sleeping pattern, relaxing, maintaining silence, cooling off, and turning off the electronic devices well before bedtime.
