How your favourite TV shows could be sabotaging your sleep

WE ALL love a good bedtime binge. A familiar show, a cosy blanket and maybe something to sip on, it’s the perfect way to unwind, right?

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Not quite. According to sleep experts and new research which shows that our favourite late-night viewing choices might be stealing more than just our time. They could be messing with our sleep in a big way.

Not all TV is created equal, at least not for sleep

A recent study from Premier Inn surveyed 2 000 Brits to find out how their TV habits affect their sleep. The results are eyeopening - the genre of show you choose before bed has a direct link to how well and how long you sleep.

It turns out that tuning into calming content like sports documentaries, children's shows and nature documentaries (think Planet Earth or Drive to Survive) can actually promote better rest.

Nearly seven out of 10 people who watched sports documentaries before bed rated their sleep as “very good” or “fairly good”.

On the flip side? Fans of true-crime, horror and intense thrillers are sleeping significantly worse, with true crime topping the list of genres most associated with poor sleep.

“Our brains don't just stop processing once the TV turns off” explains Dr Lindsay Browning, a chartered psychologist and sleep expert. “What you watch before bed can leave your mind racing or even trigger stress responses, especially when it involves suspense, violence or real-life trauma.”

Shows that help you sleep better