Know When to Stop Checking Your Phone and Go to Sleep

By now we’ve all heard the importance of getting enough sleep. Yet many of us let our technology sabotage us getting a good night’s rest. Research has found that anxiety, due to fear of missing out, plays a major role in how we (mis)use our devices. A majority of smartphone users feel uncomfortable if they aren’t in direct contact with their phones 24/7/365, even waking up to check their phones at night. To reduce your nighttime anxiety and get the sleep you need, practice not reacting to your phone’s notifications. Simply don’t check your phone every time it beeps. Try to check your phone only every 15 minutes, then every 30 minutes, then every hour. Once you build up your tolerance, try not checking your phone at all at night. Or if you’re still struggling, keep your phone outside your bedroom at night. It’s unlikely you’re missing something that important.

Source: Adapted from “Relax, Turn Off Your Phone, and Go to Sleep,” by Larry Rosen