The Worst Thing You Do Before Bed
    by Rachael Schultz

Tossing and turning may be in your future.

Do you turn in only to turn on the TV? You’re not alone—it’s now the worldwide wind-down: A recent sleep survey found that two-thirds of people in every country watch TV in the hour before bed. The bad news? The one-third who turn off the tube are probably getting better rest.
“The bright light of TV stimulates the brain, which can affect the secretion of melatonin, a hormone necessary for quality sleep,” explains W. Christopher Winter,  M.D., Men’s Health‘s sleep advisor.  And laptops and tablets used at the brightest setting are just as harmful.
If you insist on flicking on Hulu at the lowest brightness, at least make sure you’re watching something tame. “TV can also affect sleep quality if the content is particularly upsetting,” Dr. Winter says. Translation: Late-night reruns of Friends are okay, but save the grisly Game of Thrones for the daytime.
The healthiest night time routine: Turn off the tube, and spend that hour with a good book instead. Reading under a dim light won’t disrupt your brain’s melatonin production. Plus, studies have shown that overall memory improves if you learn right before falling asleep.