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I laid down in bed at my usual bedtime, but I wasn’t sleepy yet. I reached for my phone to scroll social media for a bit. Two hours later, I was still scrolling and I was more wide awake than I’d been when I laid down. Even worse, I now felt anxious too. I was learning that sleep and social media compete for my mind.
A friend had posted an update about her seriously ill son. Even though I’d immediately prayed about the situation, worry filled my mind. I kept imagining how I’d feel if one of my children were in a similar circumstance, and my heart went out to my friend.
Another friend had written a political post, and I made the mistake of reading the comments. Half of them agreed with her and half vehemently disagreed. Not surprisingly, several of the comments were unkind, even ugly. I read the words of people I know in real life—lovely people who would never talk to someone that way in person—and I felt sad at the state of our world.
How to Avoid the Conflict Between Sleep and Social Media
I laid in bed stewing over situations I had no control over. As the minutes ticked by, I thought about how exhausted I was going to feel the next day, and I willed myself to shut off my brain and go to sleep. Of course, that made the problem even worse. Why did I do this to myself? I wondered. Why didn’t I remember that sleep and social media don’t always mix well?
Most of us have social media accounts, and for the most part, we enjoy them. But spending time on social media can be disruptive to our sleep patterns. How can we enjoy social media while avoiding its negative impact on our sleep? Here are some practical tips for being sleep- and social media-savvy.
Pray More, Worry Less
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, New International Version).
God loves us so much, and He wants to help us with every problem in our lives. When we read about sad or worrisome situations our friends on social media are facing—especially at bedtime—we can fall into a cycle of worry and anxiety, and obviously, that can disrupt our sleep. But when we trust God by praying about these problems, we are helping our friends and loved ones by asking our Creator to intervene on their behalf. Plus, when we lay our concerns at His feet, we can sleep peacefully, knowing He can take care of it.
Focus on Living for an Audience of One
“It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe” (Proverbs 29:25, Good News Translation).
It’s so easy to post things on social media and then wait for the “likes” and comments from others. Seeking other people’s approval in this way is such a common trap we might not even realize we’re doing it. It can cause great anxiety. We lie awake at night wondering why so few people “liked” our post. But what God thinks of us is all that really matters. When we live for Him and remember we’ve already earned His approval through our faith in Jesus, we don’t need to worry about what others think. We can sleep peacefully, knowing that God—our Audience of One—loves us and approves of us.
Be Careful What You Say
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18, NIV).
Conflict can be a huge disruption to our sleep. If we get into a disagreement on social media, it’s easy to replay it mentally as we lie in bed. If we feel we were unkind to someone, our regret could keep us awake. Speaking kindly on social media can help us sleep better and feel more at peace overall. Since we know sleep and social media don’t always mix well, it might be better to post earlier in the day, rather than at bedtime, to avoid any sleep problems. But even then, kindness is key.
Sleep and social media can sometimes be a bad combination, but they don’t have to be if we’re mindful of how we use it. When we remember to pray, rather than worry, and focus on God’s approval—not on the “likes” on social media—we can sleep more soundly. When we avoid conflict online and post and scroll earlier in the day, instead of right before we try to sleep, we can avoid the negative impact social media can have on our sleep patterns.
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Diane is a wife, the mother of five, and a writer. She writes about the important things in life: her family and her faith.
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