I get the impression a big part is also just engagement, in a sense - social media is built to provide a constant stream of engaging content, keeping you hooked and anticipating the next thing.
Slowing down and doing something that isn’t so endlessly exciting might help, like watching a bit of a documentary, or reading a book (one that doesn’t however captivate you too much) seems like a decent idea, much better than doomscrolling or watching short form videos one after another.
Anecdotally, but I’m glad we have phones now. I’d stare at the ceiling for 1+ hours sometimes before I had a phone and couldn’t sleep. Now I can get to watch something to mellow off at least.
I switch to one of the numerous Wikipedia pages I seem to perpetually have open. I put the browser on a dark “reader” mode and read until I find myself unable to follow along, which is a signal that my brain’s ready to sleep. If I end up staying awake for a while, it’s not because of the phone keeping me up - it’s because my brain simply isn’t ready to sleep yet.
In fact, if I don’t have quiet time to read alone on my phone just before I fall asleep, it can make falling asleep even harder. The topic of the page gives me something to think about and redirect myself toward if my brain tries to wander. It’s not a perfect solution, but it helps often enough. This is especially true if I’m traveling. My brain’s more alert in unfamiliar places, and the farther I deviate from my typical routine, the harder it is to fall asleep. Sometimes those few minutes of reading are the only consistent thing day-to-day, and it’s a time I look forward to. It wouldn’t help me to take that away.
![[C-Section] Bedtime](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/c3bb77ea-5b5b-4bde-bb47-4292245c23c3.jpeg){kind=link}
That is true though, not illuminating your eyes with blue light makes slerp easier. It’s not their fault you cant be alone with your thoughts.
I get the impression a big part is also just engagement, in a sense - social media is built to provide a constant stream of engaging content, keeping you hooked and anticipating the next thing.
Slowing down and doing something that isn’t so endlessly exciting might help, like watching a bit of a documentary, or reading a book (one that doesn’t however captivate you too much) seems like a decent idea, much better than doomscrolling or watching short form videos one after another.
Anecdotally, but I’m glad we have phones now. I’d stare at the ceiling for 1+ hours sometimes before I had a phone and couldn’t sleep. Now I can get to watch something to mellow off at least.
yeah i mellow off all the time before sleep too.
I switch to one of the numerous Wikipedia pages I seem to perpetually have open. I put the browser on a dark “reader” mode and read until I find myself unable to follow along, which is a signal that my brain’s ready to sleep. If I end up staying awake for a while, it’s not because of the phone keeping me up - it’s because my brain simply isn’t ready to sleep yet.
In fact, if I don’t have quiet time to read alone on my phone just before I fall asleep, it can make falling asleep even harder. The topic of the page gives me something to think about and redirect myself toward if my brain tries to wander. It’s not a perfect solution, but it helps often enough. This is especially true if I’m traveling. My brain’s more alert in unfamiliar places, and the farther I deviate from my typical routine, the harder it is to fall asleep. Sometimes those few minutes of reading are the only consistent thing day-to-day, and it’s a time I look forward to. It wouldn’t help me to take that away.