My mom told me about this theory she heard on tv about how having a cell phone within 5 feet of your head while sleeping affects your brainwaves somehow and keeps you from entering a deep sleep. Always one to test out a theory on myself, I decided I'd try it out and see. I've used my cell phone as an alarm clock for probably 10 years but had never put that together with my sleeplessness tendencies. I wasn't sure that it would make a difference, but... it was an interesting theory so I thought I'd test it out.
This afternoon I was sleepy and since I'm now on Spring Break, I decided to take a nap. I purposefully set my phone about 6 feet away from my bed (up on my desk instead of right on my bed-table, where it usually lives). I kid you not, I could feel myself drifting off to sleep almost instantly. I can't remember the last time that has happened - usually I toss and turn for hours first, before falling asleep, but I just figured that was something weird about me and nothing that I could do anything about.
Four hours later, I woke from a super deep, restful, vividly-dream-filled sleep. I think that's the best sleep I've had in years!! I also woke up immediately and non-groggily, which is nearly unheard of for me (just ask any of my family members or former roommates!)
My mom and I were comparing notes and realized we've both suffered from restless sleep and also an inability to fall asleep very quickly for years, both of us dismissing it for different reasons. Then when she started trying the cell phone thing two weeks ago, she noticed quite an improvement! Last night she put it by her head again to see what would happen and both her and my dad didn't sleep as well! Crazy, huh? (I should mention that my dad didn't even believe her theory, but still experienced less sleep that night!)
I'm definitely a believer in this theory now. I know I've only tested it for one nap, but it was crazy how much more rested I felt and also how much more quickly I feel asleep in the first place!
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Do you sleep poorly? Do you also happen to sleep with your cell phone near your head? I'm curious if anyone else tests out this theory, and sleeps with their phone further away, if it'll make a difference for them too. Let me know what you find out!
Ok, that is just WEIRD. I always sleep with my cell by my head in case Mr. R calls me in the middle of the night. I may place the phone on the opposite side of the room, so I can still hear it, but get it away from my head. (the phone was literally a foot away from my head, possibly closer.) I sure could use some good sleep!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to give this a shot. I usually keep my phone nearby for the alarm but I guess I'll try putting it on my desk across the room. Perhaps then it'll even force me to get out of bed to turn it off too. ;)
ReplyDeleteRemy / Cinnamon Bubbles
This is super interesting! I too, have always used my phone for my alarm clock...right beside me in bed. I don't have trouble falling asleep but I have a whole lot of trouble GETTING UP. hah. I'm really curious if moving it will make me feel less exhausted!
ReplyDelete