Our world is changing rapidly. Often times, for the better. Advancing technology provides new opportunity for us to stay informed, connected, entertained, and engaged. Technology is becoming smaller, lighter, and more portable. And these are good things. I fully embrace the opportunity that they provide.
But an unintentional side effect of the ever-increasing portability of our devices is technology addiction. It continues to make inroads into areas of our lives where it offers more distraction and harm than benefit. Dinner tables, conversations, and relationships just to name a few. Because of this, it is wise for us to take opportunity to pull back and evaluate if there are areas of our life where technology is doing more harm than good.
With that as the backdrop, is it possible there are areas of our homes that would benefit from the absence of technology (TV, Laptops, iPads, Video games) too? Mindfulness and scientific research seem to support this assumption.
Benefits of a Technology-Free Bedroom
1. More/Better Sleep.
The studies on this issue continue to surface on a consistent basis. The more TV people watch before bedtime, the less sleep they get. In this case, studies confirm what we already know to be true: the lure of the screen is just too strong for many to turn off. Additionally, artificial light exposure between dusk and the time we go to bed makes it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
2. More Conversation.
For married couples, some of your most important, intimate conversations will take place in your bedroom during the waning hours of the day… unless of course, the laptop is sitting on your lap instead.
3. More Conscious Reflection.
The evening provides valuable opportunity to meditate, evaluate, and assess your day. This examination leads to better learning from our mistakes and growing as humans. It is a far worthier cause than pursuing entertainment—and the exchange of it is a foolish transaction.
4. More/Better sex.
Couples who keep a TV in the bedroom have sex half as often as those who don’t. And spouses who choose to interact with one another on an emotional level have better, more fulfilling sex. In other words, there are more stimulating behaviors available in the bedroom than playing Angry Birds.
5. More Reading.
Light reading in the evening helps many fall asleep faster. But even if it doesn’t help you sleep, the benefits of reading still far outweigh the benefits of mindless technological consumption. Removing the television, laptop, Ipad, or phone from your bedroom will almost always naturally encourage more reading in your life.
6. More Mindfulness in the Morning.
Others have covered this topic well: there are good reasons not to check your email first thing in the morning. Additionally, checking Facebook/Twitter before putting your feet on the floor could be argued against with the same rationale.
7. More Relationship within Family.
At any age, removing technology from bedrooms fosters interaction. I’m not against the use of technology in our homes, I do it everyday. But rather than retiring to our separate bedrooms for homework, Internet-surfing, television, or video games, keeping technology in the living areas of our homes encourages greater interaction. It also aids in monitoring the online activities of our children.
8. Less Sleep-Texting.
The fact that our world is experiencing a rise in people sending revealing and embarrassing texts in their sleep ought to give us pause to seriously reconsider the habits we have embraced.
9. Less Accessibility.
Few of us need to live our lives accessible to others at all times of the day. Text alerts, Facebook notifications, Twitter mentions, and emails are often nothing more than distractions that keep us from the world right in front of us. They clutter our mind with nonessential information. Keeping your bedroom as a notification-free zone results in a more peaceful, engaged, calming environment. And it allows space for our minds to separate from the day’s activities.
10. Less of the Emotions Attached to Social Media.
The studies are not healthy. People who spend time on social media tend to experience higher levels of envy, loneliness, frustration, and anger. Social media interaction holds some benefit. But if we can intentionally remove these unhealthy emotions from our bedroom, I’ll argue for that any day.
11. Rooms serve purposes.
Rooms serve purposes: kitchens are for cooking, dining rooms are for eating, and offices are for working. The better we define those rooms and their purposes, the more productive they become. Use your bedroom for better relaxation, sleep, and sex by taking the laptops, video games, and televisions out of them.
The idea of a technology-free bedroom is a counter-cultural thought. And for many, the typical response to the idea of embracing it will be met with all the reasons it is simply not possible:
- “My phone is my alarm clock.”
- “I need to check the weather in the morning.”
- “I read on my Ipad in bed.”
- “I have to watch my TV or I can’t fall asleep.”
But the benefits of a technology-free bedroom should not be overlooked and dismissed so quickly. Besides, most of our excuses can be overcome with some creative thinking and extra intentionality—which help stand as another important reminder: Technology ought to serve us, not the other way around.
Jerri says
Thanks you for the thought provoking article. Last night I noticed that I had the television on, the radio on, and I was playing a game on my laptop. And I wonder why I have trouble sleeping and often feel exhausted the next day. Tonight, I will try to go without electronics….wish me luck.
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Queen Mary says
So Joshua, here’s what I know. My husband and I are too old to think “technology” in the bedroom is normal. But just about every single friend I have, uses the TV to fall asleep. One friend uses a radio. It’s just what they do. And I do use my phone as an alarm clock — the old one died, didn’t seem worth getting a new one. My husband does crossword puzzles on his iPad in bed. It doesn’t inhibit any of the things you suggest in your email. Maybe you’re writing for a different generation — all things with moderation. We’ve always believed in living simply so others may simply live.
Marco says
Technology-free? Almost. I’ve removed my second TV from my bedroom (and the appartment) years ago. However I do keep my Kindle on my nightstand, as it has replaced paper books for me. And although I do use my cellphone as an alarm, I keep it in another room – which gently forces me to actually get up and move towards the bathroom (and my pull-up bar) when the alarm goes down in the morning.
Susan says
These are great reasons to keep technology out of the bedroom. While I read my ipad in bed sometimes, I charge it outside our bedroom during the night. I’m glad my husband & I have always protected our bedroom as sanctuary. The long-term effects of exposure to all this electrical stimulation is still unknown and to many considered a form of toxin exposure. Thanks for sharing these other benefits!
E Taylor says
I use my NOOK all the time for reading. (Even this site) I must admit I wish my DH could love with out his tablet. But we never watch TV and all of our technology is turned off at night.
Morghan says
My phone is my alarm clock, but from 4.1 on Android includes a blocking mode to kill all lights and sound leaving it as just a lump of plastic on my nightstand until it comes on at 0445 and starts ringing at 0505.
Theresa says
My husband & I have never had a TV in our bedroom, but he had people at work tell him we should get one when we expecting our 4th or 5th child. We now have 6 children (only 3 left at home now) & we enjoy more frequent intimacy than the averages we read about.
Tara says
Great piece – I do not watch TV, touch the phone or internet in the morning until I get to the office. Mornings are quiet family time in bed having breakfast.
My partner is a TV addict but I do not allow him to turn it on before I leave for work. He watches it for hours in the evening in the living room, and I escape by reading books upstairs in the bedroom. Sometimes I wish we had more together time, but I am not willing to watch 4-5 hours of TV a night to be with him. At least when we are specifically doing something together, he does not play with his phone. I never touch my phone unless it’s to make a call or respond to an urgent text (which is very rare). I really do believe technology separates us from living real life – during vacations I do not touch the internet at all.
Jo Casey says
You are speaking my language! I completely agree that electronic devises have no place in the bedroom – they disrupt our circadian rhythm and can lead to sleep disorders like insomnia.