Experts Weigh in on Having a TV in the Bedroom
Having a TV in the bedroom certainly has benefits, but what are the implications for personal health and relationships?
Having a television in the bedroom makes a lot of sense to people that like to lie back and totally switch off from the world, and for couples who treat their bedroom as a retreat away from busy family life. But many experts say to tread carefully when thinking about making this addition – there are significant downsides.
For the sake of your health
Whether you share your bedroom with someone, or you sleep alone, clinical counsellor Susie Tuckwell says there are health disadvantages to be taken into consideration before you decide to put a television in your sleep space. A loss of sleep due to over-stimulation of both the eyes and the brain before bedtime is one of the most obvious disadvantages of having a TV in your bedroom.
Whether you share your bedroom with someone, or you sleep alone, clinical counsellor Susie Tuckwell says there are health disadvantages to be taken into consideration before you decide to put a television in your sleep space. A loss of sleep due to over-stimulation of both the eyes and the brain before bedtime is one of the most obvious disadvantages of having a TV in your bedroom.
“Screen time disturbs the body’s natural wind-down mechanisms. Not allowing your brain to clear out waste products over time may contribute to dementia,” Tuckwell says. “Lack of sleep can also lead to depression and other health issues such as obesity.”
Read more about healthy homes
Read more about healthy homes
These health issues can also be affected by the specific form of light that televisions and other electronic devices emit, known as artificial blue light. Natural blue light from the sun helps regulate our circadian rhythms, which maintains our proper sleep patterns, whereas artificial blue light, especially late at night, can disrupt these rhythms, leading to irregular sleep patterns. Prolonged exposure to artificial blue light may cause retinal damage and contribute to age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to loss of vision.
For the sake of your relationship
In addition to general health issues, there are concerns about what having a TV in the bedroom can do to a couple’s relationship. As we’ve embraced open-plan living in our homes, it can be hard to find a room that can be a place of seclusion for couples. Tuckwell says that couples need to find at least 10-15 minutes to connect with each other and share the events of the day. “Sometimes the only space for that in busy family life is in the privacy of the bedroom,” she says. When spending time there, we also tend to want all our comforts on hand, which inevitably includes the TV.
Do renovating and relationships mix?
In addition to general health issues, there are concerns about what having a TV in the bedroom can do to a couple’s relationship. As we’ve embraced open-plan living in our homes, it can be hard to find a room that can be a place of seclusion for couples. Tuckwell says that couples need to find at least 10-15 minutes to connect with each other and share the events of the day. “Sometimes the only space for that in busy family life is in the privacy of the bedroom,” she says. When spending time there, we also tend to want all our comforts on hand, which inevitably includes the TV.
Do renovating and relationships mix?
Clinical psychologist, Gemma Cribb of Equilibrium Psych says while watching TV together is tempting, it isn’t an ideal way for couples to wind down together. “Reading together, playing a game, or giving each other a massage are all better ways of relaxing as a couple,” says Cribb. “If a couple does watch TV together, it should be for a limited amount of time.”
Tuckwell agrees and says that over time, indulging in too much television in the bedroom can be detrimental. “I find that couples that spend a lot of time with screens, including TV, feel more disconnected and lonely than those who give time to talking and other shared activities requiring connection and communication.”
Tuckwell agrees and says that over time, indulging in too much television in the bedroom can be detrimental. “I find that couples that spend a lot of time with screens, including TV, feel more disconnected and lonely than those who give time to talking and other shared activities requiring connection and communication.”
One of the main arguments against couples having a TV in the bedroom is the effect on intimacy. Watching TV is a form of ‘parallel play’ where couples are together but not interacting, says Cribb. “Small doses is normal, but it’s becoming too frequent in our current lifestyle and this decreases intimacy and connection in relationships.”
With all this being said, taking into account that we live in a culture where multi-tasking is the norm and the term ‘binge-watching’ has become a common phrase, having a TV in the bedroom for couples may still be the favourable option. But for the health of your relationship, as well as yourself, you may just want to consider the advice above and not make it your go-to activity.
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Yet, while having a TV in the bedroom may help create a relaxing atmosphere, at the end of the day the negative effects do add up.