wellness
Screen Time Before Bed Cuts Sleep Duration, 2026 Study Finds
A 2026 study tracks how device use before bed cuts sleep duration for people in active communities.
How we reported this
A January 2026 analysis from the Sleep Research Centre tracked 1,200 adults and found those who used phones or tablets within 60 minutes of bedtime lost an average of 34 minutes of total sleep each night.
Longer daylight hours this summer have pushed evening routines later for many residents, with screens filling the gap between work and rest. The pattern shows up in local health checks where fatigue reports have risen since May.
Wellness programs on Mitcham streets
Staff at the Mitcham Leisure Centre on London Road now run a four-week screen cutoff workshop that starts at 7pm on Tuesdays. Participants log device time on worksheets before trying 30-minute wind-down routines. A second group meets at the Figges Marsh community hall every Thursday, where the Mitcham Active Living network pairs the same advice with short outdoor walks along the Wandle Trail.
Local data collected in June showed 42 percent of people surveyed on Grove Road and Upper Green West reported using screens after 10pm on weeknights. The same survey linked that habit to an average 25-minute drop in sleep quality scores measured by a simple seven-day diary.
Practical steps tested locally
Residents who joined the Leisure Centre sessions report switching phones to night mode by 9pm and leaving chargers outside bedrooms. The Active Living network supplies paper logs at no cost and tracks progress at the end of each month. People who want tailored checks can book a slot with their GP at the nearby Ravensbury practice on the same day they pick up the next workshop timetable.