It's not a myth: The light that emanates from your smartphone screen really does mess with your sleep. The culprit? Blue light.
Blue light is emitted from a wide variety of sources, from the sun to digital screens, electronic devices and fluorescent lighting. Its shorter wavelengths suppress melatonin and tell our brains to be active.
Evolutionarily, this made sense: When the sun goes down, that signals to our brains that it's time to rest. And before electricity eventually intruded on this natural cycle, gas lamps -- which emit less disruptive red and orange light in long wavelengths -- lit most cities and bedrooms.
Now, however, we're looking at our screens longer and later. And while we certainly don't want to return to pre-electricity times, this could be affecting the quality of our sleep.
Studies have found that those who read with a tablet at night experience poor quality sleep and wake up feeling less alert than those who consume their bedtime stories from a paper book.
For better sleep, consider powering down your devices at least an hour before bed. The action will signal to your body that waking hours are coming to a close, and you'll rest easy.
Want to learn more? Have a look at Deep Look's video above.
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