Do You Sleep Near Your Phone?

We all know we should avoid screens before bed and checking our email in the morning, yet many of us sleep with our phones right next to us. Do you?

Over at Apartment Therapy, Kim McCormick did a little experiment where she banished her phone from her bedside for one month, and actually had a positive experience:

While I expected to notice the change the most at night, the morning has been the biggest improvement. Using a dedicated alarm clock has actually helped me get up earlier. I'm hitting snooze less often; the alarm has only one, pretty annoying sound. But really, it's the peacefulness of letting my mind ease into wakefulness, rather than checking to see who's shared an interesting photo of flowers or dogs, that makes me happiest about reshaping my habits.

This isn't necessarily something everyone could expect from the same experiment, but it is an interesting thought. I sleep next to my phone every night and look at it first thing when I wake up, even though I know I shouldn't—and I don't even use it as an alarm. What do you do? Have you ever tried banishing your phone, and if so, how did it go?

Banishing My Phone from the Bedside: The Results, One Month Later | Apartment Therapy

Photo by Matthew.

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This Music Is Designed to Help You Relax and Sleep

The right kind of music can soothe us into a perfect state of relaxation. Add this scientifically-based, hour-long video to your nighttime playlist and catch more Zzzz's.

The music is based on research done by psychologist Dave Elliot of the University of Cumbria. He found that the most relaxing music, according to volunteers in anxiety studies, had these features: 90 beats per minute, a 4/4 beat, piano and strings, and narrow note sequences where the notes moved from low to high.

So In 59 Seconds' Richard Wiseman teamed up with a composer to create the music above using these principles. It might not be for everyone, but definitely worth a listen if you have a hard time falling asleep.

The World's Most Relaxing Music | Night School

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Ask an Expert: All About Getting Better Sleep

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Insomnia can be very frustrating and we've all been through it—staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night, hoping to catch a few winks before the dim blue light of dawn shows up. Luckily there are ways to improve your sleep. At soon-to-launch startup Casper, co-founders Philip Krim and Neil Parikh have been hard at work testing quantifiable sleep products to find out what makes for a better night's sleep. With Philip's entrepreneurial acumen and Neil's background in robotics with NASA (among other things), the duo hope to help people engineer their slumber. Have a question about sleep or the lack thereof? Philip and Neil will be here for the next hour so ask away.

The Q&A is now over. Thanks for your great questions!

Have an expert you'd like to see participate? Email us.

Illustration by Kar (Shutterstock).

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Get Better Sleep and Improve Digestion with This 30-Second Yoga Move

Yoga can be great for relaxation, in addition to improving your overall health and well-being. This one move is an instant de-stresser, great for doing right before bed.

It's called "Reclined Twist." You relax in the pose while holding your bent leg towards the opposite side. The video above shows a variation of the pose, where your knee is upright; in the traditional pose, your knees are stacked over each other and against the floor, as this (much longer) video demonstrates.

You can lie in it for ten deep breaths on each side or for ten minutes, if you wish.

As Bottom Line Publications points out:

This simple twist releases tension in the spine, hips and back, which can interfere with a good night's sleep. The deep breathing helps you wind down, allowing you to release worries.

I find it also helps with achiness in the shoulders and neck (especially if you turn your head to the opposite side of the bent knee), and Yoga Journal says it can help cure a sluggish digestion (by wringing out your insides, I guess) and low energy. Don't worry, though. It's not too energizing and might help you catch more zzz's.

Beginner Yoga Positions: Reclining Twist Yoga Poses | YouTube

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