Many of us are guilty of habits we know aren’t particularly good for us. For some people this is linked to diet and some of their favourite unhealthy snacks, while others might spend more time in bed then they’re proud of.
But a common habit many of us have fallen into in recent years is checking our phones first thing in the morning.
Whether to check the time, read messages or scroll on social media before getting up it is a default way to start the day for many people.
This may seem harmless but one expert is warning it could have a negative impact on our wellbeing.
Speaking on TikTok, pharmacist Raj Patel, dubbed it one the “worst morning habit” you might have.
In a video he told his more than 33,000 followers: “You and probably everyone you know does it – grabbing your phone instantly once you get out of bed or even in your bed.”
This can have a lasting impact on your mental capacity for the day ahead, he said.
Raj continued: “Instead of kickstarting your day with a fresh and focused mind, you subject your brain to a barrage of distractions that numb your feel good dopamine system and shatter your mental clarity.
“Even if you manage to put the phone down, your concentration takes a hit.
“Your dopamine system is left buzzing, whispering, ‘Let’s indulge in more entertainment, seek rewards’.
“This uphill battle for productivity continues to weigh on you throughout the entire day.”
Instead he recommended starting with a productive morning ritual, such as going for a walk or practising yoga.
“The key to a more productive day is to begin with your morning ritual,” he said.
“Please prioritise it then dedicate at least an hour or two to something truly productive.
“Your future self will thank you for the clear headed, successful day ahead.”
His advice comes as an American study found that around 80 percent of people aged between 18 and 44 admit to reaching for their phone within the first 15 minutes of waking.
Of that 80 percent, 62 percent were going for the phone immediately after waking while 44 percent were using it to use as an alarm clock.
Separate research, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research in 2018, detailed how harmful mobile phone use is on your sleep and mental health.
It said: “Mobile phone use at bedtime was associated with shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality.
“‘Problematic use’ (dependency) was associated with several negative outcomes.
“In conclusion, associations between mobile phone use and adverse mental health outcomes are found in studies that take a psychological or behavioural perspective on the exposure.
“However, more studies of high quality are needed in order to draw valid conclusions about the mechanisms and causal directions of associations.”
Source link