Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock
Topics: Mental Health, Sleep, Health, Technology
Stefania Sarrubba
A doctor has warned against the negative impact of starting your day with this seemingly innocuous habit, giving advice about what you can do instead to keep your brain as sharp as ever.
We've all been there. Setting an alarm on your phone may be to blame for kicking off the day looking at a screen. Hitting the snooze button once or twice and looking at notifications is a slippery slope to being sucked into the void of Instagram and TikTok first thing in the morning.
While we all know that being on our phones so much isn't great for our sleep hygiene, Dr Wendy Suzuki is the latest expert to explain exactly why we should steer clear from our smartphones for as long as possible when we wake up.
"You’re starting your day all wrong and your brain knows it," the neuroscientist captioned a video posted to her Instagram – which is fine to watch, unless you've just woken up.
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"The science is clear: reaching for your phone first thing spikes cortisol, hijacks your focus, and puts your nervous system into high alert before you've even taken a breath," the post continued.
In the actual clip, Dr Suzuki speaks directly to camera, confirming we've been starting our day out 'all wrong' if we wake up and immediately start doomscrolling.
"You've been starting your day out all wrong, and your brain hates it," she said.
"If your first move in the morning is checking your phone, your brain misses out on its most powerful window of the day."
Dr Suzuki said that when we wake up, our brains are at their 'peak neuroplastic mode'. As dopamine is restored during sleep, the brains are at an enhanced capacity to adapt and transform based on external stimuli.
"Dopamine and cortisol are naturally high, giving you a boost in motivation, creativity, and focus," she said. "But screens hijack that potential."
If you're wondering how you can delay your screen time, Suzuki has a few tips to implement some good habits to replace doomscrolling with.
"So, here's your experiment. For the next five mornings, delay screen time by just 20 minutes," she continued. "Instead, stretch. Write down three things you want to focus on. Or, just sit with your coffee and your thoughts. Watch what happens when you give your brain space to lead."
If you'd like to give Dr Suzuki's advice a try, it's worth nothing that doomscrolling before going to sleep is equally not great for your health and you probably should stop doing that too.
While it's tempting to watch one more reel (or 20) before dozing off, experts warn that using a screen in bed, regardless of the screen activity, can increase your risk of insomnia up by 59% and cuts your sleep time by 24 minutes.