Screen time and sleep: what the research actually shows

Scrolling through Instagram or catching up on emails before bed has become routine for thousands of Chicagoans, but mounting evidence suggests that screen time in the evening is making it harder for many to get quality sleep.

The issue is especially relevant right now during the city’s short summer season, when longer daylight hours and late-night events tempt residents to delay bedtime—and their phones often fill the gap after sunset. Downtown clinics such as the Northwestern Medicine Sleep Disorders Center on East Huron Street report an uptick in patients complaining of trouble winding down as the city’s nightlife and digital demands collide. Meanwhile, local wellness studios from Lakeview’s Chill on North Halsted to West Loop’s The Float Club have added sleep-focused events to address the surge in complaints about insomnia.

Blue light and bedtime: The local angle

Research from the University of Chicago’s Department of Neurology suggests it’s not just content keeping Chicago awake. “We see a consistent pattern of delayed sleep onset in adults and teens who use screens within two hours of bedtime,” says a staffer at the department. The key culprit? Blue light emitted by phones, tablets, and TVs. This light suppresses the body’s production of melatonin—a hormone crucial for sleep. At Walgreens clinics citywide, pharmacists report a steady increase in customers asking for over-the-counter melatonin supplements, with a 14% jump since 2022, particularly in neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Hyde Park. On the North Side, the Center for Sleep and Health on West Dempster regularly sees parents seeking strategies for their teens to cut back screen use—an issue Mercy Home for Boys & Girls also addresses in after-school programs.

According to Sleep Research Society data, adults who use screens for more than an hour before sleep are twice as likely to report difficulty falling asleep, and are 27% more likely to experience daytime fatigue. The city’s 311 non-emergency line logged 422 sleep-related inquiries in 2025, up from 288 the prior year. The trending popularity of sleep-tracking wearables—Fitbit’s Chicago-based office reports a 30% sales increase for sleep-focused devices since last summer—reflects growing awareness.

Small changes, measurable impact

So what can Chicagoans do about it? Experts recommend powering down digital devices at least one hour before bedtime. The Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington branch on State Street now hosts monthly workshops on "digital hygiene," teaching simple strategies like setting device curfews, using blue light filters, and developing nightly wind-down rituals. Wellness studios such as Yoga Six in Wicker Park bundle digital detox techniques with their evening restorative classes, which cost around $25 per drop-in session.

For those struggling to unplug, some area therapists (including Sleep Chicago on South Wabash) suggest incremental changes. This might start with moving phones out of the bedroom or switching to paper books after 9 p.m. And as the city sweats through its brightest, most active weeks, many local clinicians emphasize that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—but a clear takeaway from the research is that fewer screens before bed means better rest the next day. Residents who need more support can tap resources like Advocate Aurora Health’s sleep clinics, or the city’s upcoming "Sleep Well Chicago" expo at McCormick Place in late August.