Many experts agree that sleeping with the TV on side effects can be negative. From disruption of sleep patterns to over-stimulating the brain, there is an important number of reasons to turn the TV off before going to sleep.
Since these negative effects can have such a big influence on students’ performance, this is a subject highly studied in papers, thesis, and essays about television. Here we tell you about some of these negative effects.
● Falling asleep with the TV disrupts the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone responsible for making you feel sleepy and wanting to rest. Your body starts producing it when evening falls since that is the natural sign that indicates that the time for sleeping is coming. It is a hormone that helps you rest and allows your brain to do all the resetting work it has to do. With a TV or any other light on during the night, the production of melatonin is interrupted.
● It will create sleep debt. “I’ll just go to sleep when this show is over”, surely you have said that to yourself on more than one occasion. The problem is that the next show might also be interesting, and the next one, and the next one until you see the clock and realize that it’s 4 in the morning and you have only a couple of hours left to sleep. This is what is known as “sleep debt,” and it is a very bad thing to do to your brain because that lack of sleep can’t be recovered.
● The terrible blue light. When the sun is up, our bodies are active, when
the sun and light go away, our bodies know that it’s time to be inactive. This is an instinctive behavior that has nothing to do with what we consciously know. If you sleep with the TV on the constant presence of blue light that TVs and every other electronic device emit are a big enemy to proper rest. It is a light that tells our body that it can’t fall asleep completely and that it has to be alert, even when our conscious knows that it is time to sleep.● Our brains still process sounds when we’re asleep. The body needs two things to sleep: darkness and silence. So, another aspect that won’t let your body rest is the sound of your TV. You might think that by falling asleep, you shut down these sounds, but your brain is actually perceiving them. It is an extra task that your brain shouldn’t be doing while you are sleeping.
● It affects your general performance. Have you had a bad day at school because you were sleepy? TV effects on sleep quality are an important issue and writing about it might make you realize that a bad night’s sleep has big consequences on your performance at school. If you have to do television and need an example to know where to begin, you can look for sites that offer writing services. Some of them can even give you a free sample. By doing this kind of assignment, you can understand the importance of turning the TV off before going to bed.
● It over-stimulates the brain. Sleeping with the TV on is the perfect example of how to overstimulate your brain. We mentioned that both the light and sound of a TV keep the brain alert, but that is not the only problem. Your brain is not just sensing the light and sounds, it is also processing all the information that is receiving, which means that what’s on the TV is being analyzed by the brain. That is why sometimes the show that is on TV while you sleep goes into your dreams. This is unnecessary and prevents your brain from resetting properly and keeps you from having a good night of sleep.
Having all these consequences in mind, it is only logical to think that sleeping with the TV results in low sleep quality. You need to be careful with these and give your body
Is it really bad to sleep with the TV on?
Sleeping with the TV on side effects is really bad, especially for students, who need to have a fresh mind every morning. Still, there are some particular situations in which it can be helpful. There are a few, but it is important to also know them.
How can it help?
How does it work?
How should it be done?
It can be comforting
Some people feel better with the sense of not being alone while sleeping.
TV shows with images that won’t change violently.
It gives a “background noise”
Sleeping in complete silence can push the brain to pay attention to every little sound.
The sound of the TV can become a background noise that covers all other noises but won’t bother the brain.
Sounds have to be smooth and constant.
Avoid loud noises or sounds that can make you think in violent or uncomfortable situations (for example, avoid shows with screams, yelling, etc.)
Helps people with anxiety
When anxious people are alone with their thoughts, they begin to overthink and feel stress.
TV can be a great distraction.
The idea is to use shows that are entertaining but won’t make you think too much.
It is a good alternative to social media
Watching TV is a passive activity, while scrolling and reading posts require being active.
It is recommendable to set your TV’s auto-off. That way, it won’t be on all night.
In general, the expert advice is to turn the TV off before going to sleep. It is the best way to create a scenario that will allow your brain and body to give you adequate sleep. So, even if there are a few benefits and one or another essay on television says it’s OK, it is best not to take the risk and hit the OFF button on the remote.
At Alaska Sleep Clinic, we encourage everyone to practice good sleep hygiene. However, your sleep issues could be a sleep disorder that must be correctly diagnosed and treated to make a difference.
Alaska Sleep Clinic has the most experience with Sleep Telemedicine than any other lab in the state, having used it with our patients for years now. Your sleep health doesn’t have to be put aside right now. Call one of our labs today for a FREE sleep assessment.
