A medical professional has highlighted the potential drawbacks of beginning your day with a habit that might seem harmless at first. She provides suggestions on alternative practices to maintain optimal brain function.
Most of us have experienced this: setting an alarm on our phones often leads us to start the day by looking at a screen. Tapping the snooze button and checking notifications can easily lead to a lengthy session on Instagram or TikTok right after waking up.
Though it’s widely acknowledged that excessive phone use can harm our sleep habits, Dr. Wendy Suzuki recently emphasized why avoiding smartphones upon waking is crucial.
“You’re starting your day all wrong and your brain knows it,” stated the neuroscientist in an Instagram video. The video is available for viewing unless you’ve just woken up.
“The science is clear: reaching for your phone first thing spikes cortisol, hijacks your focus, and puts your nervous system into high alert before you’ve even taken a breath,” the post elaborated.
In the video, Dr. Suzuki addresses the camera, affirming that starting the day with doomscrolling is a mistake.
“You’ve been starting your day out all wrong, and your brain hates it,” she declared.
“If your first move in the morning is checking your phone, your brain misses out on its most powerful window of the day.”
Dr. Suzuki explained that upon waking, our brains are in a ‘peak neuroplastic mode.’ During sleep, dopamine levels are restored, enabling the brain to adapt and change effectively with new stimuli.
“Dopamine and cortisol are naturally high, giving you a boost in motivation, creativity, and focus,” she noted. “But screens hijack that potential.”
For those seeking to minimize screen time, Suzuki offers some tips to cultivate healthier morning routines instead of doomscrolling.
“So, here’s your experiment. For the next five mornings, delay screen time by just 20 minutes,” she advised. “Instead, stretch. Write down three things you want to focus on. Or, just sit with your coffee and your thoughts. Watch what happens when you give your brain space to lead.”
If you’re considering applying Dr. Suzuki’s recommendations, it’s important to note that indulging in doomscrolling before bed is also detrimental to your health and should be avoided.
Though the allure of watching another video before sleeping is strong, experts caution that using screens in bed can increase the risk of insomnia by 59% and reduce sleep duration by 24 minutes.