Like every other electronic gadget that we use today, smartwatches have capacity limitations, they need to be charged. Just like the human brain and entire being needs sleep every night in order to get replenished, people often wonder whether it is a good idea to turn off the smartwatch at night. 

Some people consider this a good practice that gives the electronic setup a break from continuous cycling which provides the output that we have come to depend on during the day. But does turning off any electronic device, in particular, the smartwatch make any tangible difference in the functioning or longevity of the device?

Should I Turn Off My Smartwatch At Night?

Do you want to monitor sleep patterns? 

The smartwatch has several functions most of which are carried out during the day. It almost looks like it is the device that never sleeps because it has an important function that is carried out at night while every other human or gadget is expected to be taking a break from it all. The smartwatch performs the function of sleep monitoring and measures sleep quality when you are fast asleep. So, the first thing to consider is whether you are interested in utilizing the sleep monitoring feature that the smartwatch offers. 


If you are, then you definitely should not turn off your smartwatch at night. The sensors will not be able to monitor your movement patterns, or heart rate patterns and there will be no data to process to give you the suggestions that will help you improve your sleep cycle. However, if you have no problem with your sleeping pattern and do not intend to monitor that part of your lifestyle, then keep reading.


Do you have safety concerns? 

You have probably heard the popular belief that smartphones and electronic gadgets should not be kept close to you while you sleep because they can be harmful. The truth is different components of smart devices are made with a lot of metals and some of them are capable of emitting radioactive materials. The degree and amount of emitted radioactive materials are however negligible and pose no threat to human health whatsoever. You may however want to avoid having any of these devices around you and working overnight altogether if your mind is already fixated on the idea that it might be harmful. 

Do you have sleep disruption concerns? 

Although, the smartwatch tracks sleep patterns with the aim of helping you improve your sleep and develop a healthy sleeping habit, wearing it or keeping it functioning around you while you sleep can actually disrupt the sleeping pattern. This is because there is a tendency for you to be distracted due to the overwhelming awareness that there is a smart device around you. 

You might also find yourself reaching out to check and press the device when you ought to be sleeping. This is a counterproductive outcome so it might be best to just turn the device off entirely and store it away where it cannot be a distraction. 

Also, most people have their mobile devices connected to their smartwatches and if you’re one of those people, it is advisable you turn off your smartwatch overnight. This is because if your mobile device is on, there is a possibility of receiving notifications on your watch from the phone during the night. You do not want this if you’re a light sleeper, the sound or flash of luminous light can be a cause of insomnia robbing you of a good night’s sleep. 

Do you have battery concerns? 

The truth is the major reason you are considering turning off your smartwatch at night is probably to conserve the battery life. We live such busy lives these days and we need quite a number of gadgets to get through and stay afloat. Unfortunately, a higher number of gadgets translates to a higher frequency of charging especially when you consider the interconnectivity and dependencies of these gadgets. What this means is that there is no room for any of your gadgets to be low on battery power as this can have a significantly negative impact on the overall outcome of your daily performance. 

So, most people are usually planning and making schedules for charging gadgets and devices in their minds. A simple way to ensure a balance of battery capacity among your different devices is simply to conserve capacity as much as possible. After all, there is no need to charge if sufficient battery power is still available. One of the widely held beliefs when it comes to conserving batteries on electronic devices is to turn them off. 

When devices are turned off, they make no demands on the battery and the battery capacity is kept constant. However, when they are kept on even during the night, although there is a reduction in the demand on the power apparatus of the device, there is still a demand and this can affect available battery power. 

The degree of power demand during the night also depends on whether some of the smartwatch features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, screen resolution, and others are kept on or not. There is no way of knowing how considerably larger the power demands of a smartwatch will be when the features are kept on compared to when they are not but it is higher. If you turn off these features, the battery demands are low such that is comparable to turning the device off. But since it is easier to just turn off the device, it is best to turn it off whenever it is not in use. 

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Conclusion 

The decision to turn off your smartwatch at night or keep it on depends on a number of factors that centers around whether you are using it during the night or not. If you are not using your smartwatch during the night then go ahead and turn it off. It does not necessarily translate to significant battery gains or savings but it is a good habit t turn off appliances when they are not in use. It will also shield you from unwanted notifications and disturbances that might make your otherwise peaceful night unbearable.