Put the phone down! Wellness expert reveals what REALLY happens to our brain when we look at the screen first thing in the morning

  • New research reveals 90 per cent of Australians check their phone first thing 
  • According to wellbeing expert Chelsea Pottenger this habit is bad for our brain
  • She says feelings of paranoia, worry, fear, anger and irritability can be a result
  • Ms Pottenger offers her advice for starting your morning in a healthier way 

By Emilia Mazza For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Reaching for your smartphone first thing in the morning can do more harm than good, a new study has found.

The research found a staggering 90 per cent of Australians engage in this habit, and it's one that's shown to be damaging to the brain.

In fact, what you do in the first eight minutes of your day is crucial to success, relationships, health and wellness.

Wellbeing expert Chelsea Pottenger surveyed 95,000 people over three years in order to understand what effect this behaviour had on mental and emotional health.

The findings found the practice kicked the mind into a 'high wave' of stress, and over the long term could lead to feelings of paranoia, worry, fear, anger and irritability. All of which are connected to a weakened immune system.

New research has revealed that a staggering 90 per cent of Australians engage in the habit of checking their cellphones first thing in the day (stock image)

New research has revealed that a staggering 90 per cent of Australians engage in the habit of checking their cellphones first thing in the day (stock image)

Chelsea Pottenger (pictured) carried out research that revealed the effects using a mobile first thing had on the brain

Chelsea Pottenger (pictured) carried out research that revealed the effects using a mobile first thing had on the brain

'When we first wake up, we transition from a delta brainwave of sleep into a theta brain wave - where the brain is more flexible and malleable,' explained Ms Pottenger, a PhD research candidate in psychology and neuroscience.

Theta brain waves, which occurs between sleep and being fully awake, lasts for a short period and are thought to be crucial for improving emotional intelligence, creativity and problem-solving skills.

People who engage with their phone first thing skip this important window of theta activity, and instead head straight into a beta brainwave of high stress.

Ms Pottenger - an R U Okay ambassador - said this has a significant impact on the physical structure of the brain as well as a person's ability to perform, their health and their wellbeing.

Speaking to 10Daily, the expert said flooding the brain with stressful information first thing made in virtually impossible to strengthen or create the neural pathways associated with positivity or optimism.

'Your brain is at the mercy of the information you're consuming - if your mind is being filled with negative, frightening things, it's hard to maintain a happy, peaceful state for the rest of the day.'

How often is too often when it comes to checking your phone? 

A similar study to Ms Pottenger's carried out at Nottingham Trent University, found that the average amount of time people aged 18-33 check their phone is an astounding 85 times per day.

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To break the habit, Ms Pottenger outlined a number of strategies, all of which she says will set you up for a better day ahead.

Her top suggestion? To 'own' the first eight minutes of your day.

This can be done a number of ways: meditation, deep breathing, some gentle stretching or even a healthy tonic of warm water and a squeeze of lemon.

Embedding 'positivity' into your brain during this eight-minute period can even take the form casting your eyes over a visual representation of goals.

Ms Pottenger's EQ Minds Vision Board Program is the ideal tool for helping create a picture of your version of success.

And lastly, keep your phone out of the room. Charge it away from where you sleep and resist the urge to use it as an alarm. 

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