The internet literally changed the way we live, so much so that we can’t imagine a world without the internet. And even though it has served us for decades now, we’re still trying to understand exactly how it has changed our health– more specifically, our sleeping habits.

How so? Read on as we cover the details of how the internet is affecting sleep in a bad way.

3 Ways Internet Affects Sleep

According to a research published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, the use of the internet before bedtime can cause detrimental effects on our health.

It Keeps Your Brain Active

Opening a couple of emails or scrolling through Facebook posts before you go to bed may look harmless. But it actually tricks your brain into thinking it needs to be awake to process all the activity.

It makes it even harder for the brain to relax when you see something exciting on Facebook or when you read negative emails. These subtle things can make it hard for the brain to relax and settle.

Suppresses the Production of Melatonin

Blue light emitted by screens on cellular phones and computers can suppress the secretion of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone from our pineal gland in the brain that controls our circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycles (commonly known as body clock).

Because blue light restricts the production of melatonin, it makes it hard for an individual to fall asleep.

Even when you’re not literally on your phone, push notification tones from Facebook posts and emails can distract you. Staying up late at night plus the excessive exposure to blue light causes you to wake up feeling groggy the next morning.

Easy to Get Lost in What’s On the Screen

Distraction is easily the main thing that keeps us from going to bed early. And these distractions are what makes it harder to put these electronic devices down at night.

This is especially true when you’re heavily invested in online activities like TV shows, video games, and e-books.

“One more game” can easily turn into spending hours of gaming. “One more chapter can turn into reading an entire book. “One more episode” can turn into finishing an entire season. And “one more email” can turn into a late-night cramming to prepare a presentation the following morning.

3 Tips on How to Get a Better Night Sleep

Go for a Morning Stroll

After you take your morning coffee, expose yourself to the sun or indoor light by taking a morning stroll. This doesn’t just give you an energy boost but it also sets your body clock straight by telling your brain it’s the start of the day.

Limit Your Internet Usage Before You Go to Bed

Bright lights and blue lights in the evening can throw off your body clock by tricking your brain that it’s still morning. A habit of keeping yourself from accessing gadgets (even television!) in the evening for at least half an hour to an hour can help your brain to relax before sleeping.

Buying a Good Mattress

Changing your mattress also helps. You see, mattresses come in many shapes, sizes, and firmness for a reason. Some mattresses even excel at motion transfer isolation. This especially useful if you sharing your bed with a partner. Read this best mattress for couples guide to learn more about this wonderful mechanic.

Remember, buying the right mattress according to your sleeping behavior and pattern can considerably improve your sleep experience. But reading reviews before making any purchase is vital to make a successful buying experience.