wellness
Thomastown Research Reveals How Screen Time Destroys Sleep Quality
Evening device habits cut into rest for many Thomastown residents, according to fresh data on blue-light effects.
How we reported this
A 2025 review of 1,200 adults found that people who kept phones or tablets active within an hour of bedtime took an average of 27 minutes longer to reach deep sleep stages.
The finding arrives as Thomastown wellness groups expand evening programs, with more residents seeking ways to improve nightly recovery amid longer workdays and family schedules.
Thomastown Recreation Centre on Dalton Road now runs a six-week sleep series that begins next month, while the community garden group at Findon Reserve has added a 7:30 p.m. wind-down walk twice a week to encourage residents to step away from screens before heading home.
Local patterns
Staff at the Thomastown Library on Main Street report a 40 percent rise in requests for printed books over e-readers in the past year, a shift they link to members testing device-free reading routines. Several neighbourhood houses along High Street have started lending blue-light glasses for a $5 deposit, with 180 pairs already checked out since January.
One controlled trial published in the Journal of Sleep Research in March tracked participants who reduced screen brightness after sunset and avoided social media after 9 p.m.; they gained 19 minutes of total sleep time per night compared with their baseline week.
Next steps for residents
Thomastown residents can start by setting device alarms for 45 minutes before their usual bedtime and switching to paper notebooks for evening lists. The recreation centre will accept bookings for its sleep series from 15 July at the front desk or online, with sessions limited to 25 people each week.