Screen Time & Sleep: Brisbane Research Guide

A 2025 study by researchers at the University of Queensland tracked 420 adults and found that those who used screens within one hour of bedtime took an average of 32 minutes longer to fall asleep than those who avoided them.

Brisbane residents face particular challenges with sleep as work-from-home patterns and streaming habits extend into the evening, even as the city promotes year-round outdoor activity. The issue has gained attention this year because more locals report fatigue amid rising participation in evening fitness classes along the river.

Brisbane routines and screen habits

At South Bank Parklands, morning yoga sessions and riverside walks draw crowds before work, yet many participants return home to scroll through phones late at night. New Farm Park sees similar patterns, with its popular running tracks and picnic areas used by office workers who later unwind with tablets or laptops in nearby apartments on Brunswick Street. Local programs such as the Brisbane City Council’s Active Brisbane initiative encourage daily movement but do not yet include formal screen-time guidance in their wellness materials.

Evidence from the Australian Sleep Health Foundation’s 2024 national survey showed that 41 percent of adults in Queensland cities reported using phones or tablets in bed at least four nights a week, correlating with shorter sleep duration. The same data set linked consistent evening screen exposure to a 19 percent increase in self-reported daytime tiredness among those aged 25 to 44.

Practical steps for better rest

Residents can start by setting device curfews at 9pm and switching to paper books or dimmed lamps in the final hour before bed. Replacing late-night scrolling with a short walk along the Brisbane River or a stretch in New Farm Park earlier in the evening helps reinforce natural wind-down signals. Anyone experiencing ongoing sleep trouble should speak with a GP or sleep specialist at a local clinic for personalised assessment.