6 Reasons to Put Your Smartphone Away Before Going to Bed

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Most of us cannot be separated from our smartphones. Starting from the morning until the moment before getting into bed. Your thumb will constantly scrolling and your eyes will still be glued to the screen. Moreover, before going into bed, you would likely to open your social media or check on the email from the office.

However, experts and health researchers revealed that those habits can harm your health and also endanger your eyes.

The blue light from smartphone is sharp at night so it will not only affect the eyesight but also produce a melatonin hormone which responsible for your sleep deprivation. Based on Boldsky, here are the reasons why you should put your phone away before bedtime:

1. Affecting Sleep Cycle

The use of mobile phones regularly in the evening before bedtime can cause sleep deprivation because your mind may be too excited or activated. Besides, the compulsive desire to check your phone can delay your sleep time and reduce total sleep time.

2. Damaging your retina

The blue light emitted from mobile phones, or smartphones, have the shortest wavelength in which they are flickering faster. This affects the eyesight and in the long term, it can even damage your retina. According to American Macular Degeneration Association, the blue light emitted from smartphones can cause total damage to the retina and lead to macular degeneration.

3. High Risk of depression

Staring at your phone when you are supposed to sleep not only affects physical health, but also your mental health. When the blue light from mobile phones disrupts hormones and sleep patterns, you are at risk of depression. Also, low energy levels during the day, combined with sleep deprivation thoughts can also trigger a sense of weak emotional and mental state.

4. Prone to Cancer

The association of World Health stated that mobile phones cause cancer risk. Prolonged exposure from the blue light and its influence on the sleep pattern has been proven to increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

5. Affecting your memory

Contrary to its name as a 'smart' phone, excessive exposure from it can affect your brain. Using mobile phones at night makes your brain not to be able to repair the damaged brain connection during the day - the reason why you cannot think clearly after a sleepless night.

6. Damaging the eyes

When it's dark and your eyes are exposed directly by the blue light, it will strain and sore your eyes. If it continues it will damage your eyesight permanently.

Yunia Pratiwi | Safira Andini