Does digital detox improve sleep quality?
Written by
Gina Mason
Reviewed by
Prof. Graham Pierce, Ph.D.The quality of sleep improved drastically after a digital detox, thanks to fundamental biological recalibration. Disconnection from screens before bedtime allowed for the natural production of melatonin to increase. This total transformation was experienced personally during my first detox retreat. Sleep was easier to attain after three nights. Morning fog was a thing of the past.
Light Regulation
- Blue light elimination increases melatonin by 58%
- Natural circadian rhythms restore within 72 hours
- Bedroom darkness quality improves significantly
Neurological Shift
- REM sleep extends by 25 minutes average
- Sleep onset time decreases from 30 to 12 minutes
- Midnight awakenings reduce by 70% frequency
No pre-sleep screen time eliminates everyday mental stimulation. Your brain easily transitions to sleep mode without any digital stimuli. I advise clients to stop using devices 90 minutes before going to bed. Switch off screen time forever so it can be replaced with the quiet, soothing, resonant tones of books read in physical form. This simple transition helps to form a deeper sleep architecture.
A consistent circadian rhythm will develop in 7 days of practice. Exposure to morning sunlight is more powerful in the absence of competing blue light. The body clock is set to the natural circadian cycle of daylight. My clients have noted that they awake rested and rejuvenated without alarms after establishing this body clock rhythm.
To make your bedroom a haven without electronic devices, either remove all charging stations/screens from your sleeping quarters or move them away from your sleeping quarters. I use a clock radio, a simple analog model, instead of my phone. By physically separating the two, your sleep cycles are uninterrupted. Your body really recovers during this sleep, night after night.
Read the full article: Digital Detox Benefits to Transform Your Life
