07/15/2025
Generally, a lack of proper sleep has been shown to compromise most aspects of physical and mental health throughout our lives. And TV plays a significant part in that. It may or may not be shocking to find that watching TV before bed is a regular nighttime ritual for over 50% of people, with over 70% reporting that it's just a habit for them - to use TV in their downtime before bed.
But experts advise against this. Using a TV or a similar device to watch a television show or movie before bed exposes us to artificial light, also known as blue light, and it can stimulate hormones that wake us up while suppressing those that help put us to sleep, such as melatonin. It can also throw out of whack our body's bio clock. The content we watch can also inhibit our body's ability to fall asleep. This is especially problematic with children and teens.
Are you one of the millions who have turned on the TV at bedtime and find yourself still awake at 1 AM, an entire series binged? Even if it wasn't your intention? Your brain has been stimulated, which is exactly the opposite of what it needs to put you to sleep. This significantly impacts the hours of sleep you're getting at night.
More than half (50.4%) of SleepFoundation poll respondents say they get seven hours of sleep or less each night on a typical weekday. It is recommended to get at least seven hours of sleep each night for optimal health. Anything less, regularly, is considered sleep deprivation. Ironic since the point of watching TV before bed often is to relax, not to add to our stress by reducing sleep quantity. But that may be a side effect of it.
So before you start to log those hours watching a show or movie to help put you to sleep, consider using other nighttime routines to get your body ready for bed. Your body might thank you in the long run.
