This story appeared in Vice - read the entire article here.
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According to sleep psychologist Deirdre Conroy, when exactly we hit the hay every night is not the most important factor to getting a full night’s sleep. In fact, putting yourself to bed at the “right time” can actually keep you awake longer if you aren’t tired. “I'd rather you go to bed later, in favor of winding down, than rushing and putting yourself to bed just because you think you should,” Conroy told VICE. “If it turns out that you end up going to bed at midnight, that's not the worst thing because your body will be more prone to initiate sleep and you might even sleep better that night.”
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Conroy added that not only can the things you’d read on your phone be interesting—they can also be stressful in a way that inhibits a good night’s rest. “We know that greater social media use or interaction can actually lead to mood problems, depression, anxiety,” she said. “Say you see something on Instagram that upsets you; that could trigger you, and your mind could be racing, and that interferes with sleep.” Conroy also recommended avoiding stressful conversations with your partner before knocking out—a loaded late night chat about finances or relationship issues in the dark of your apartment does not set either of you up for a great night of sleep.
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