Why you should not be binge-watching on your favourite show before bed
It turns out your late night binge-watching sessions could be harming your health.
Perhaps one of the ills of our technology-reliant lifestyle is that our gadgets have managed to weave its way into every facet of our everyday life – even our bedtime.
Researchers have coined a new social phenomenon called “binge-watching“. If you have not heard of the term before, you’re definitely familiar with it at least. Binge-watching is essentially when you watch multiple episodes of the same show consecutively in one sitting, on any type of screen.
A study by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine has made the first link between binge-watching with poorer sleep quality, increased fatigue and insomnia. The study surveyed young adults aged between 18 to 25 on their television viewing habits (streaming services included), as well as their perceived sleep quality and alertness levels throughout the day.
As the authors of the study suspected, the “binge-watchers” in the study reported higher levels of fatigue, more insomnia symptoms, and increased alertness before bed. While the authors on the study state that it does not prove that binge-watching directly affects sleep quality, it does provide substantial evidence that they are at least linked.
Sleep-disrupting blue light
It no secret now that blue light emitted from electronic screens is not good for sleep patterns. Exposure to blue light before bed delays the release of melatonin (which induces sleep), increase alertness and shifts your internal body clock. This leads to difficulty in sleeping, insufficient sleep, and a consequent increased level of tiredness. Teenagers are especially susceptible to this, which is why it is best to encourage your teenage child not to get in the habit of binge-watching, particularly on a school night.
Increased alertness during bedtime
Additionally, the shows on on-demand TV are designed to reel viewers in, create suspense and a high emotional investment in the plot and characters. (Everyone who’s watched Game of Thrones can definitely relate to this.) While this is a testimony to their brilliant script-writing, it does not bode as well for our health unfortunately. According to the study, the high suspense levels creates excitement and increased arousal, which may translate to “increased cognitive alertness” and an inability to get the sleep you need.
So the next time you plan to catch an episode or two of your favourite show to ease yourself into bed, just remember that it does quite the opposite. Perhaps it is best to leave those glorious binge-watching sessions for the daytime.
Sarah Khan
Photo: Getty Images
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