Good Healthism: Watch TV From Your Bed? Not So Fast

For the curious, healthism is actually a word, not some catchy phrase we've made up (even though it may have started that way...!). However, the topic at hand is healthy habits, and healthy TV watching is very important here at Unplggd. So, if you're one of the gazillion people out there who've found a way to stick a TV into that place of sanctuary of yours (namely, your bedroom), here are a few facts that may encourage you to do otherwise...

According to a recent article by Science Daily, television watching right before bedtime can seriously lead to sleep debt. Like credit card debts, you need to pay them off before they build up. The same applies to sleep - or lack thereof when you're eyes are drooping over the 4th consecutive episode of Gilligan's Island.

As stated by doctors at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School: "Watching television seemed to be the most important time cue for the beginning of the sleep period, rather than hours past sunset or other more biological factors. So, in fact, TV may make people stay up late, while alarm clocks make them get up early, potentially reducing sleep time below what is physiologically needed."

In other non-official studies, watching Megan Fox before bedtime is like taking three shots of espressos.

(Via AT:Chicago)

Comments (6)

Add yet another thing to the list of completely obvious things people should do, but for some inexplicable reason don't.

posted by Benji on August 4th 2009 at 11:52am
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i'm guilty of this. i think i watch tv to fall asleep cause i dont' have any other opportunity during the day to watch tv. i suppose i should finally read the 3 books sitting on the night stand for the past 7 years.

posted by FightTheFuture on August 4th 2009 at 1:48pm
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I don't have a TV in my bedroom, but that doesn't keep me from watching TV right before I go to bed...

posted by ObliterateWasteNow on August 4th 2009 at 8:16pm
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I'm all about a TV in the bedroom - I have a very hard time falling asleep without something to listen to so there's nothing like a good movie with the sleep timer with the sound on low for me to fall asleep to.

posted by emily! on August 4th 2009 at 9:58pm
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I keep my computer in my bedroom.. the fans put me to sleep at night. Although, it really is a waste of electricity... ahh I'm terrible..

posted by ekoshyun on August 4th 2009 at 10:34pm
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I live in a studio apartment so yes my TV is in my bedroom (perse) but there's no way around it right now. I try not to watch tv past a certain time so I force myself into getting 7 hours sleep but it doesn't always work. :)

Good intentions tho!

posted by alisaan on August 5th 2009 at 9:37am
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