In the age of endless streaming and cliffhangers that beg for “just one more episode,” bedtime is under siege. Whether it’s catching up on the latest reality show drama or racing to stay ahead of online spoilers, millions are pushing their sleep aside in favor of nighttime screen time. But at what cost?
According to Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics in California, the price of trading sleep for shows may be far steeper than we realize. In a recent interview with Fox News, Amen shed light on how late-night viewing isn’t just making us groggy—it’s impairing our brain’s ability to function, restore, and even make sound decisions.
“When you sleep, your brain cleans and washes itself,” Dr. Amen explained. That nightly cleanse is vital for memory, energy, blood flow, and cognitive clarity. Without it, the effects ripple into every area of your life—from the fog you feel the next morning to the poor decisions you might not realize you’re making.
The doctor’s advice is direct: “Don’t make important decisions the next day, because your brain has not been properly ‘washed.’” Even losing just half an hour to an extra episode can impair judgment and reaction times, similar to the effects of drinking alcohol.
Watch Now, Pay Later
Late-night television and mindless scrolling aren’t harmless guilty pleasures—they’re brain health liabilities. Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin, the hormone that signals our body it’s time to wind down, making restful sleep even harder to come by. “Mindlessly scrolling – you’re going to have the fear of missing out almost immediately, which also increases stress,” Dr. Amen warned. He recommends enabling blue-light blocking features on devices in the evening to ease the transition into restful sleep and help the brain perform its essential nightly maintenance.
Sleep Is Self-Love
Dr. Amen doesn’t frame this as deprivation, but as self-respect. “How much do you love yourself?” he asks. “Doing the right thing is never about deprivation. It’s about the abundance of what I want.”
He encourages reframing priorities. “I want energy. I want memory. I want focus. I want passion. I want purpose. I want blood flow. I never want to do anything that hurts the brain.” For those chasing productivity, clarity, or simply better mornings, the advice is simple: “If you want your memory better tomorrow, go to bed half an hour early tonight.”
In a culture driven by content consumption, Dr. Amen’s insights serve as a wake-up call. You can always watch that episode later. But your brain doesn’t have a replay button.
As the doctor reminds us, “You’re going to get serious about brain health.” The question is—will you start tonight?
