Most people will have developed certain morning habits that get them started for the day. But, an expert has claimed one action that’s so easy to do and common among millions before getting out of bed might be harming your health.
Dr Amir Khan, who regularly features on ITV daytime shows like Good Morning Britain, Lorraine and This Morning, said we shouldn’t reach for our phones in the morning before doing anything else. This habit might seem innocent enough – but it could be setting you up for failure.
Dr Amir Khan said it can cause “instant stress and overstimulation”. He added that checking your socials or emails can “flood the brain with information” before it’s had a chance to fully wake up.
Grabbing your phone as soon as you wake up is often seen as a poor choice. It can throw off your sleep cycle, raise your stress and anxiety, divert your attention from essential morning activities, and hinder your ability to concentrate.
This habit can also prepare your mind for distractions rather than helping it transition gently from sleep to wakefulness, ultimately creating a less-than-ideal start to your day. Dr Amir Khan continued: “It can lead to a rise in our stress hormone (cortisol), which can make us anxious before we even start the day.”
Whilst you may not be doing anything overly productive as you get out of bed in the morning, the doctor claims that the simple act can disrupt “our focus and productivity”. He added: “Our brains wake up calm and relaxed – or at least they should.
“Diving straight into notifications can shift our internal focus, making it hard to set out intentions for the day” He concluded: “Instead of setting out our priorities, we get caught up in work and social media.”
The doctor explained that certain studies show that excessive phone use in the morning is linked to higher stress levels and lower mood throughout the day. He also stressed that the ‘blue light’ rush could lead to eye strain at the best of times.
But, Dr Amir Khan said our eyes will be more “sensitive” after hours of sleep, so instant exposure could “interfere with the body’s natural wake-up process.” Some healthy morning habits to do instead:
Dr Khan suggested that if you have to reach for your phone in the morning, it’s best to wait a little while first. He gave 30 minutes as a good rule of thumb to use so that your body can be prepared physically.
Sleep experts recommend establishing a morning routine and prioritising activities like stretching, drinking water, meditation, or journaling to help your mind wake up gradually. If you must check your phone in the morning, use a blue light filter to minimise the impact on your sleep cycle.
Cortisol is often referred to as the body’s stress hormone. There is usually a natural increase in cortisol levels in the morning, as it is essential for helping you wake up.
But a “bad” morning cortisol level indicates an excessively high spike. This can be harmful, as it may cause anxiety, jitters, trouble focusing, and can even interfere with your sleep cycle if the spike happens too early. This is because cortisol prepares your body for action, even when it’s unnecessary.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.