Text messages ''hinder a good night''s sleep''
The increasingly busy lives of Brits and the growing popularity of smartphones has led to people spending more time text messaging than ever before, but this could be having an unwanted impact on people's sleep.
According to research carried out as part of Ofcom's annual Communications Market Report, the average Brit now send more than 200 text messages per month - more than double the amount reported four years ago - and this 'always available' mentality could be disrupting people's sleeping habits.
James Thickett, Ofcom's director of research, told the Independent: "Talking face to face or on the phone are no longer the most common ways for us to interact with each other.
"In their place, new forms of communications are emerging which don't require us to talk to each other - especially among younger age groups.
"This trend is set to continue as technology advances and we move further into the digital age."
However, the notion that people can be contacted much more easily any time of day has meant people are now finding it more difficult to wind down before
bed.
Therefore, those hoping to achieve a good night's sleep on a more regular basis should develop a positive wind-down routine, which includes turning off their phone in order to ensure they create a quiet and relaxing haven from the daily stresses of life.
According to Dr Laura Davies, a psychiatrist at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, those hoping to ensure they achieve a positive night's rest can employ a number of other methods to boost the quality of their sleep.
She recently told the San Francisco Chronicle that individuals should avoid drinking alcohol if they want to have a good night's rest, as although drinking can make people drowsy, the quality of sleep they achieve after consuming alcohol is often worse than when sleeping naturally.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
