Your Guide to Reading Before Bed
Reading is a wonderful practice to have. Whether it’s fiction, biography, thriller, horror or nonfiction, books teach us new things, transport us to new worlds and help us be creative. Want to start reading before bed? Here’s everything you need to know.
Benefits Of Reading
There are many amazing benefits to reading, both emotionally and mentally. These benefits include:
Reducing stress and improving relaxation
Can improve concentration and memory
Expand your vocabulary
Learn new facts
Discover new areas and ways of thinking
Enhancing knowledge
Increase your imagination and creativity
Why Should You Read Before Bed
Reading before bed is a great way to relax and wind down.This state of rest will slow your heart rate and relax your muscles, both of which can make falling asleep easier.
Reading is a form of entertainment that does not include a screen so it’s an amazing way to get away from that phone or TV before sleeping. So, add reading to your sleep routine, put your phone down an hour early and pick up a book!
What Type of Books Should You Read Before Bed?
There are general rules that you can follow when picking a book before bed but some things may work for you that might not work for others.
You want to pick a book that is not going to make you read late into the night. You want a book that you generally enjoy. You want to choose a book that isn’t going to cause you to lay in bed after wide awake unable to sleep.
The most important rule? Read whatever you want to read.
This time before bed should be all about you. You spend all day doing things you’re supposed to be doing. So, use this time to read the fluff book, that romance novel or that comedy story. If you really love biographies, then read those! If you love books about history or cool facts, grab one of those! Try to stay away from books that you feel like you should read or need to read.
This is true for university students or those studying. Put down the textbook and read something for fun. It will not only help you sleep better but it will make reading those textbooks less challenging.
You may want to stay away from horror or thriller books. These books could spook you and make it harder to fall asleep.
How Long Should You Read Before Bed?
Reading before bed is challenging because it’s easy to get pulled in and to read for hours and hours after your bedtime. You want to read long enough that you feel sleepy without pushing past this edge.
20 minutes is a good start. You can also set chapter expectations – 1-2 chapters per night.
If you want to read more, make sure you get into bed early enough to accommodate that.
5 Books To Learn About Sleep
Curious about sleep? Here are 5 books about sleep you can add to your sleep schedule.
Why We Sleep: Unlocking The Power of Sleep and Dreams. By Mathew Walker, PhD
The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It. By W. Chris Winter, MD
The Ripple Effect: Sleep Better, Eat Better, Move Better, Think Better. By Greg Wells, PhD
Nothing Much Happens: Calming Stories to Sooth Your Mind and Help You Sleep. By Kathryn Nicolai
Reading Before Bed
Think of it like this: The average novel has between 10 - 20 chapters. If you read 1 chapter per night, you could read, on average, 1 - 1.5 books per month. This could be between 12 - 18 books every year. Although the average Canadian does already read 12 books a year, adding an extra chapter or two per night could more than double your books! Imagine how much knowledge you could gain from that! Plus, you’ll sleep better so it’s a win-win.