Whether it's the latest news or an episode of a favorite series, there are many people who have made it a habit to sleep with the TV on. Let's put it a little more bluntly: they don't sleep without television. We have known for a long time that experts have been saying that there should be no contact with the mobile phone, tablet or TV a few hours before bed because it disrupts the circadian sleep-wake rhythm.
But why do some people fall asleep with the TV on?
The TV is loud and usually, people need quiet to sleep. Why then are some people put off by something like this? Aric Prather, a psychologist who treats insomnia, tells Yahoo Life that it's not exactly clear why some people fall asleep with the TV on while others don't. However, he says our brains can limit the sensory processing that allows us to sleep even if there is background noise.
The reason some people do this is because the background noise allows them to relax and distract their minds.
Is it wrong to make this a habit?
Watching TV can delay going to bed. Especially for people who have a problem with insomnia, connecting sleep with the bed without first switching from the TV causes this to affect a better quality of sleep. While our bodies have a system to filter out sounds while we sleep, they can't cut out all the noise. Extreme changes in volume or light, such as an explosion in a TV show, can startle us awake, disrupting our sleep.
What you watch before bed can also affect how well you sleep. Especially emotional content can make you feel more awake, which can prevent you from relaxing enough to sleep.
But falling asleep with the TV on every night may signal that there is something preventing you from falling asleep naturally. If you're having trouble and feel like the TV is your only option for sleep, you can talk to a specialist to find ways to manage your anxiety and calm your mind.
Because keeping the TV on every night before bed is not a good idea!
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