We're all guilty of reaching for our phones first thing in the morning

It's 6 am and we're still half asleep with one eye open but we still manage to sleepily scroll through our Instagram before getting up to get ready for work.

It's not the healthiest habit to have but is it really causing a lot of harm?

Experts have confirmed that using your phone first thing in the morning can cause mental fatigue.

According to psychologist Antonio Kalentzis, being exposed to the blue light on our phones can cause mental exhaustion.

He explained: "When you wake up, your brain is in a state called ‘sleep inertia’, a groggy transition between sleep and wakefulness. This is a delicate period when your cognitive functions are not yet fully restored."

"Grabbing your phone and flooding your brain with notifications, social media feeds, or emails overstimulates your prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control."

It may seem harmless to quickly check your socials or text a friend back first thing but it can actually lead to brain fog.

"This barrage of information can lead to mental fatigue before you’ve even gotten out of bed, making your mind feel cluttered and less focused for the rest of the day."

As tough as it may be leaving your phone to the side in the morning may help improve your day.

We'll give it a try but we're not sure if we can part with our morning scroll through TikTok.

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