Give Late-Night TV a Pink Slip

For many it is as much a part of the daily routine as a morning cup of coffee: drifting off to sleep to the wisecracks of Leno or Letterman, or another selection from hundreds of channels of latter evening programming. But could these late-night television shows be ruining your sleep?

Sleep experts recommend reserving the bedroom space for only sleep and sexual activity, yet many of us also have televisions there. It is likely that this leads to some level of sleep disruption. The persistent stimuli may delay the onset of sleep, cutting into an already sub-optimal total sleep time. Moreover, once we fall asleep the noise may keep us in lighter stages longer. If one awakens in the presence of external stimuli, the degree of consciousness may be increased, and sleep may be further disrupted.

If you are having difficulties with daytime sleepiness or insomnia, it may be time to boot the television from the bedroom.