Research shows using smartphones before bedtime decreases happiness

Majority of us have a habit of using our smartphones before going to bed and a new research shows that his habit can bring a decrease in happiness, well being and mental health.

Research published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior suggested that if the smartphone is not used before going to sleep and is kept out of the bedroom, the result would be an increase in person’s mental health and happiness.

The researchers examined 95 patients out of which 49 were told not to use the phones in their bedroom for one whole week. The remaining 46 were told to use their phones just like they do in their everyday lives. After a week, those 49 people asked to abstain from their smartphones in bedroom showed little improvements in happiness and the quality of life. Also, 93.6% of the volunteers said they would consider continuing not sleeping with their phones in future, reported Science Direct.

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The author Nicola Hughes told her story, “I got my first iPhone about 4 years ago. Before that, I had been using a Blackberry, which was barely connected to the internet and wasn’t greatly suited to apps, websites, etc. I used it essentially only for calls, text messages and the occasional email. I could see that other people were spending more and more time on their phones, but I didn’t understand it.

“Then I got my iPhone — then I got WhatsApp, Instagram, 3G, 4G and so on. Before I knew it, the phone had become the source of an ever-present, constant, ongoing conversation with everyone in my life and an endless stream of content which was always beckoning for my attention.

“Eventually, I read an article where the author had started charging her phone in the lounge at night so as to keep her bedroom a ‘sanctuary’ from the invasion of tech. This gave me the idea for my study, to test whether there would be any real, measurable impacts (for good or bad) to limiting tech use in the bedroom and creating space for more offline time.”

Moreover, as Tech Juice explained, participants also informed that keeping their smartphones out of the bedroom before sleep enhanced their sleep, improved the relationship, decreased anxiety, improved focus and wellbeing and also kept them away from wasting time.

Where many of us go through troubles in everyday lives, maybe this little technique can help solve a little part of them and enhance our quality of life and mental health along with decreasing the risk of smartphone addiction.