As it darkens earlier in the day, and temperatures continue to drop, people may be more likely to take part in indoor entertainment.

However, Cheryl Pearson, a Healthy Living Facilitator with Southern Health Sante Sud, says the more time we're spending indoors looking at screens could be negatively affecting our sleeping habits.

The most significant reason for this is light from blue screens, as we lay in bed streaming our favourite shows, and scrolling through social media.

"It has a profound impact on our sleep because it disrupts our body's production of the sleep hormone melatonin. That hormone is responsible for making us sleepy, and blue light reduces that production, making us more awake."

It can be a real challenge, especially for children staying up later on gadgets to get up in the mornings, and she adds it can be an even more significant challenge to develop habits to put those gadgets away.

She says the habits and behaviours needed for meaningful night's rest, are known as sleep hygiene. "Good sleep happens hours ahead of the actual time you want to go to bed."

There are many aspects of sleep hygiene, she says, and they include exercise five or six hours before bed, avoiding heavy meals right before sleepy, and avoiding drinking or eating items with caffeine in them.

"Some of the things we can do, believe it or not, cleaning up the chaos in a cluttered bedroom. It makes for a cluttered mind, and that can affect you, way into the night. One of the key things, especially in winter, is to let the morning light in to set the stage for your morning wake cycle."

Getting that morning light, and going to bed at a regular time, can be beneficial to your circadian rhythm, says Pearson. If people are having trouble falling asleep, Pearson suggests having a white noise machine or fan to block the disruptive noises throughout the night.

If parents are looking to help their kids have better sleep habits, Pearson says to start by having a routine schedule taking part in afterschool activities, limiting screen time, homework, and having supper at a regular time before winding down for bed.

She says, on average, kids are getting less sleep and sleep less well, and that limits their ability to learn.

Not only will having better sleep hygiene improve their ability to learn and function, but Pearson also says having a routine is beneficial to family life as "routines are good family building."