{"id":26462,"date":"2021-08-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/junk-sleep\/"},"modified":"2023-08-21T19:26:05","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T19:26:05","slug":"junk-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/junk-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Junk Sleep\u2014and Are You Suffering From It?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many of us have been spending more time than ever on our devices these days, thanks to all the extra time we’ve had at home during the pandemic. With virtual work and online school, you have no option but to be glued to your laptop and phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The potential consequence of overusing these devices? Junk sleep. With a name like that, you’d be right if you guessed junk sleep wasn’t a good thing. Luckily, there are a few easy steps you can take to put a stop to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn more about what junk sleep is, what the most common causes are, and what you can do to prevent it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is junk sleep?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may or may not have already heard of junk sleep, but if you find yourself tossing and turning in bed or waking up feeling exhausted, then you’re no stranger to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to The Sleep Council<\/a>\u2014a British organization that speaks on the importance of sleep and its relation to our health\u2014junk sleep<\/a> is sleep that’s neither long enough nor good enough in quality to help restore your brain so that it can function properly the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leading cause of junk sleep is the constant use of electronic devices before bed<\/a>\u2014but other factors, like lack of a bedtime routine or a chaotic environment, can also affect how well you sleep at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you prevent junk sleep?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve fallen victim to junk sleep, follow these tips before bed to help you catch better Z’s tonight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ditch your devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 95% of people use an electronic device within an hour of bedtime<\/a>. I don’t blame you: It’s your chance to catch up on the news, reply to people, check your socials, read, or set your alarm for the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t kid yourself by calling this \u201cme time.\u201d In reality, using your phone or tablet before bed disrupts your body’s circadian rhythm and can lead to junk sleep. That’s because screens emit blue light<\/a>, which inhibits your brain from producing melatonin, the sleep hormone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what should you do? The answer is simple: Cut back on your electronics usage before bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how to do it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n