Sleeping With the TV Enemy
As someone who works in the economically-challenged television business, I'm naturally concerned about anything that might keep people from, you know, watching television. So I'm not happy to see this new academic study that came out this week:
Uh-oh. So it's not healthy to watch TV leading up to the time you turn in. What does that mean for people like me -- and maybe you -- who watch television after they go to bed? Or people -- like me -- who leave the TV on in the bedroom even after they go to sleep? What's to become of us, Associated Professional Sleep Societies members?
It really doesn't matter what the answer is to that, because I don't think I can change. I love watching TV in bed. My bedroom television -- my big beautiful HD bedroom television -- isn't my distraction as I finally get horizontal after a long day; it's my reward. I personally don't think it has a negative effect on my sleep. In fact, we have an arrangement: I watch the television, and after I get tired and conk out, the television watches me.
Sleep experts say it's a mistake to have a television in the bedroom at all. An article I read once said the bedroom should be used for only two things: sleep and sex. Well, I hate to tell you, but if there can only be two things going on in that bedroom, either sleep or sex is going to have to go, because there's no way I'm giving up the TV. Thank goodness my wife feels the same way. Who says it's difficult for couples to be fulfilled in bed after decades of marriage?
I guess the television has become our adult night-light. That's not such a bad thing. With all the troubles and worries in the world today, what would you rather wake up to in the middle of the night: an infomercial promising a new career in the exciting world of distressed real estate? Or darkness, utter total darkness? It's an easy choice.
This post first appeared on June 8 on The Huffington Post
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Comments: 10
May be you are among many Americans, who are somewhat addicted to TV?
I heard of this study before. I myself mostly agree we shouldn't put TV in bedroom. TV got enough crappy shows now a day that it is probably not good to let it chase us all the way to our bed.
By the way, this practice of "leave the TV on in the bedroom even after they go to sleep" is not good either, waste power to say the least, even when you have money to pay for it.
Instead, I think read a book, your favor book, or magazine quietly in your bed before sleep is probably a better idea.
Since you quoted a study, let me also quote one I watched.
It was a 60 minutes program that is about a year ago, showing a university doing a study on sleeping. Apparently enough sleep is WAY more important than we think. We often want to put more time daily to work. Without a good sleep (like "deep sleep"), it right away affects our work performance the next day.
They did a survey on sleep time. Like 20 years ago, the medium hours is 8. Now? 6.7. When people don't have a good quality sleep time (not only quantity), they show the concentration and memory are both down. A lady, when only allowed to sleep 4 hours and wake at 4am (or so), is clearly a mess when interviewed. Nevertheless, she still think she is fine to drive.
Many famous accidents, like the Chernobyl disaster in the former Soviet Union or the water taxi crash few years back, was more likely caused by lack of sleep than other stuffs. Lack of sleep also affects hormone, let people eat more, and let to obesity, heart decease and diabetes.
Like the lady interviewed said, we say diet and exercise are important for our health. We should also add sleeping on it.
That's a "summery of a summery" about the story.
Jim I love your antic about watching your tv until you conk out and then letting the tv watch you. Lol, I won't lie I do the same thing but I tend to get in trouble if I leave it on all night so I usually just put the tv on sleep so that it turns off after a while. However I wake up about five minutes after it goes out and turn it right back on. It makes no sense but I just enjoy the tv on while I sleep.
Jim I love your antic about watching your tv until you conk out and then letting the tv watch you. Lol, I won't lie I do the same thing but I tend to get in trouble if I leave it on all night so I usually just put the tv on sleep so that it turns off after a while. However I wake up about five minutes after it goes out and turn it right back on. It makes no sense but I just enjoy the tv on while I sleep.
This study may interest you
When Sleep Leaves You Tired
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124451280076496767.html?mod=yhoofront
Jim, you are such a hypocritical liberal. Did you know that your "big beautiful HD bedroom television" consumes probably 10 percent of your household energy use (and that more than 50% of this energy is produced by burning coal)? Turn off the TV when you are not watching it. Use an old style CRT TV whuch uses less energy or a brand new 2009 eco friendly low energy TV.
Time was when anchormen read deeply in their offtime and that intelligence permeated through to their broadcasts. Jim Watkins, that time has past. You watch the idiot box and you work on the idiot box. Only an idiot would listen to you.
Jim, you are such a hypocritical liberal. Did you know that your "big beautiful HD bedroom television" consumes probably 10 percent of your household energy use (and that more than 50% of this energy is produced by burning coal)? Turn off the TV when you are not watching it. Use an old style CRT TV whuch uses less energy or a brand new 2009 eco friendly low energy TV.
Time was when anchormen read deeply in their offtime and that intelligence permeated through to their broadcasts. Jim Watkins, that time has past. You watch the idiot box and you work on the idiot box. Only an idiot would listen to you.
Jim, you are such a hypocritical liberal. Did you know that your "big beautiful HD bedroom television" consumes probably 10 percent of your household energy use (and that more than 50% of this energy is produced by burning coal)? Turn off the TV when you are not watching it. Use an old style CRT TV whuch uses less energy or a brand new 2009 eco friendly low energy TV.
Time was when anchormen read deeply in their offtime and that intelligence permeated through to their broadcasts. Jim Watkins, that time has past. You watch the idiot box and you work on the idiot box. Only an idiot would listen to you.
Oh--Arthur, get a life ! Put your TV on and go to bed ! Jim-you are a terrific and intelligent TV anchor and you and Kaity together are dynamite :) Your blogs are most enjoyable also--and I too love having my TV on while I sleep.
Hey Jim, I'm confused. Did you write this or was it taken from the Huff & Puff Post? If it is yours, I like it. If the HP did it, I'm surprised because there is no political crap in it. I watch TV in bed, too, and I don't worry about my sleep. I let Mama (Mama Nature) worry about it. She takes me out when she thinks I'm ready and gets me up on time.
Also, The Arthur Chi'en commenter can't be the PIX reporter. I just don't think he would make statements like those ending his comments.
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared.