These days we seem to be connected 24 hours a day. In fact, sleeping with your phone right next to you is common and often convenient. But is it safe? How far away should your phone be when you sleep?
Sleeping with your phone next to your head has become very common. Many people use these cell phones as alarm clocks so they are convenient to have in bed. Also, it is a great way to make sure you don’t miss a call, text message, or email.
Sadly, it can also be a great way to develop serious illnesses.
These health concerns are linked with the radiation your cell phone emits. When you sleep with your phone next to your head, you are exposed to this radiation all night. This article will tell you what will happen to you when you sleep next to your phone and how far away from your phone you should be when you sleep.
Is it Bad to Sleep with Your Phone Next to You?
Sleeping with your phone next to you is not advised because of the potential risks. It is important to be aware of the dangers of sleeping with your phone by your side so you can take steps to avoid them:
Negative Impact on Male Fertility
Research has shown that cell phones and electronic devices, in general, can be harmful to health. While inconclusive, these studies indicate worrying signs of long-term exposure.
An Australian study has shown that there may be a link between cell phones and male infertility.
This study showed that sperm motility (the ability of the sperm to move toward the egg) and sperm viability (the number of living sperm that might fertilize the egg) decreased by 8 and 9 percent, respectively.
Sleeping with your phone next to your bed can prolong your radiation exposure, which can affect the quality of your semen.
Sleep Disorders
Cell phones emit blue light and make your brain think it’s daylight. When you get ready for bed, the brain releases a hormone that regulates sleep patterns - melatonin. Blue light influences these values and changes your sleep pattern.
This can result in headaches, blurred vision, and restless nights. To get enough rest and feel refreshed the next day, you need 8 hours of uninterrupted deep sleep.
The impacts of poor sleep can be serious. According to the NHS, Regular poor sleep puts you at risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes . It also shortens your life expectancy.
Sleep Disturbances
With your phone next to you, any alert will wake you up, be it an app notification, text message, or email.
Even if you don’t notice or realize it at night, even the slightest sound or ping can disrupt your sleep rhythm. If checking your phone at night is extremely important, try wearing anti-eye strain glasses to protect the eyes from harmful blue light.
Most offer all-day protection, whether it’s on your mobile phone, tablet, computer, or other electronic devices. Invest in dust-free and easy-to-clean ones.
Some phones also have a blue light filter in their settings. This can be helpful especially if you use your phone at night.
Cancer
Understandably, the biggest concern of prolonged cell phone use is cancer.
While the World Health Organization admits a possible link between cell phones and cancer, many deny it.
Although EMF radiation from mobile phones falls below the “safe” threshold of 2.0 Watts per kilogram, critics argue that any exposure is inherently dangerous. These critics implore people not to sleep next to their phones.
If a person has nowhere to place it and doesn’t have an alarm clock somewhere else, they recommend putting the phone on airplane mode before bed. This will reduce the amount of radiation emitted by the phone while still acting as an alarm clock.
Your Phone Heats Up
If you sleep with your phone, you can roll on top of it at night. The device does not get enough air and heats up quickly, which can damage the battery. Keeping the cellphone under your pillow at night could cause a fire.
This can happen if an incompatible battery is used; however, cell phones generally turn off when they get too hot.
The same goes for sleeping close to your phone while charging because it’s already hot. If you are also in bed, it can become hot from lack of air circulation and cause serious problems.
Generally, the devices should be placed on a hard surface so that they do not get too hot.
Disrupts Daily Life
The constant beeping and buzzing throughout the night from messages and notifications keep the body from getting the rest it needs.
When the body does not rest properly, it puts pressure on daily activities. You can notice it when you wake up; you feel slow and tired. It becomes more difficult to focus on different tasks, a job interview, be it a school assignment, or an activity that requires concentration.
How Far Away Should Your Phone Be When You Sleep?
Do not place your phone close to your body or under your pillow before going to bed. Place it on the floor or a table at least three feet away.
Do not carry your phone in your pocket during the day, but rather in a purse or pocket. This prevents you from being exposed to higher levels of radiation.
When you need to carry it in your pocket or use it as an alarm clock in the morning, put it in airplane mode. Cell phones are a part of everyday life today and are considered by many to be essential for staying in touch with family and friends.
Gone are the days when you had to wait until morning to check your mail or get that voicemail. Social media has taken over our lives and is the biggest contributor to screen time these days.
Effects of Too Much Screen Time
Today, people feel that they need to be connected uninterrupted, and this has entirely altered our modern culture into one that is always connected.
However, this constant connection can have a negative impact on your mental health. Excessive screen time can lead to depression and anxiety.
Experts suggest a connection between excessive screen time and depression along with an increase in suicidal behaviors and lower one’s ability to read emotions in general.
Switch it Off
Sometimes you just need to switch off, and one of those times is when you are asleep.
This is particularly important because your head doesn’t move much while you sleep and your phone is around you for many hours at a time, exposing you to strong cell phone radiation.
Despite this recommendation and the simple fact that you can’t check voicemails, emails, or see Facebook or WhatsApp Messenger notifications while you sleep, many people insist on having their phones nearby just in case something big is going to happen. In addition to your cell phone’s constant insistence on drawing attention, in many ways, it is a good idea to put it away from you while you sleep.
Firstly, you won’t be tempted to wake up and take a look every 10 minutes. Another important reason for this action is exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy and cell phone radiation emitted by your device.
Cell phones give off a significant amount of RF radiation, although they are described as harmless by the government regulators and telecommunications industry. However, admitting that this radiation could be harmful would be detrimental to their businesses.
How to Protect Yourself from Cell Phone Radiation
Orgone Energy’s Phone Computer Bluetooth WiFi Radiation Protection
Use EMF Protection
Shungite Phone Stand
Of course, many of us don’t want to stop using our cell phone, and instead want an option to continue to use their phones as usual, but without the harmful health effects.
Orgone Energy’s Phone Computer Bluetooth WiFi Radiation Protection combats electromagnetic radiation (EMR) which comes off the digital screens of iPhones which is known to cause dizziness, nausea, migraines, headaches, and hair loss.
This EMF Protection provides you and your loved ones with maximum radiation protection by harmonizing and neutralizing the effects of this harmful energy, rather than shielding or blocking them, these create a healthy life-force chi by constantly generating beneficial healthy Negative Ions.
Get an Alarm Clock
Having an alarm clock beside your bed can resolve the problem you have with your mobile phone. If you wake up at midnight and want to check the time, you won’t be exposed to the bright screen of your phone.
You don’t have to rely on your cell phone to wake you up. It can work wonders if you move it away from your bed and put an alarm clock in its place.
There are many great digital alarm clock options out there these days that come with innovative methods to wake you up. Some of them start with a lower tone and gradually increase so that you don’t wake up right away. Some of them even increase the brightness of your room gradually.
Use Airplane Mode
Airplane mode turns off the transceiver and prevents the phone from receiving and sending signals. In other words, it turns off calls and SMS.
When airplane mode is activated, no radio frequencies are transmitted to the cell towers; therefore, there is no radiation.
Text and Speaker
Do not hold the phone near your ear. It sends radiation straight into your head. Instead, use the speakerphone or SMS more often. Alternatively, you can use an app like Skype or Hangouts to avoid putting the phone next to your head.
Do Not Use the Phone When the Signal is Weak
When the cell phone signal is weak, like a bar or two, it sends out more radiation to try to reach a cell tower. So if you are hiking in the forest and notice it, try to wait for a better signal.
Switch off the Mobile Phone
Probably the simplest solution is to turn off your phone when you don’t need it, particularly before bed to avoid interruptions. Also, with the phone off, you may find it easier to relax and fall asleep before you sleep, as there are no distractions.
Final Thoughts
Using technology at night should be avoided, but if you need to have your cell phone nearby, use an Orgone Energy Phone Harmonizer or keep it at least three feet away at night. This will protect you from radiation (albeit less) and reduce discomfort. Try some methods mentioned in this post and see if there is an improvement in your sleep. Over time, you’ll get into the habit of not taking your cell phone to bed with you.