Evening Screen Use Disrupts Sleep Quality in Jakarta Residents

A 2025 University of Indonesia study tracked 1,200 adults across Greater Jakarta and found that participants who used screens for more than two hours after 9 p.m. fell asleep 47 minutes later on average and reported 28 percent lower sleep efficiency.

The finding arrives as Jakarta residents balance longer workdays, growing gym memberships and Sunday cycling events along Jalan Sudirman. Many finish evening shifts or scroll through fitness apps before trying to rest, yet the blue light from those devices keeps the brain alert when it should begin winding down.

Local patterns in central and north Jakarta

At Senayan Sports Complex, trainers now close group classes by 8:30 p.m. so members can reach home before late-night screen habits begin. Across the city, Siloam Hospitals recorded a 19 percent rise in sleep-clinic referrals between January 2024 and June 2025, with most new patients citing evening device use as their main complaint. On Car Free Day routes near Ancol waterfront, cyclists often mention needing an extra hour of sleep after weekend rides, yet many still check phones until midnight.

Research from the same University of Indonesia team showed that replacing one hour of evening screen time with a paper book or dimmed-room conversation improved next-day reaction times by 14 percent among office workers in the Menteng and Kebayoran Baru districts. The effect held after controlling for caffeine intake and commute length.

Steps residents can test this week

Start by setting a 9:30 p.m. device curfew and placing phones outside the bedroom. Dim living-room lights to 10 percent brightness after dinner, and keep a paper notebook beside the bed for any last messages. Those who cycle at Senayan or swim at Ancol on weekends report better recovery when they avoid fitness-app notifications after 8 p.m. Residents concerned about persistent fatigue should speak with a doctor at Siloam or a neighbourhood clinic before trying supplements.