Believe it or not, bedtime reading is able to improve sleep quality; research reveals that reading for a short time before bed may help you stay asleep longer. Additionally, opting to read a book instead of scrolling through your phone for example, combats the risk of blue light and therefore promotes restful sleep. Further information regarding blue light and the impact it has on our bedtime routine can be found in our blog.
Even if it’s as small as dedicating half an hour of reading before you fall asleep, you could notice a significant difference in your sleep health. Continue reading for more insight into the benefits and be on your way to a better night’s rest in no time at all.
Many of us admit to not reading enough. For whatever reason, we can’t seem to find the time to pick up a book. But what about just before going to bed?
You likely did a lot of bedtime reading during your childhood, and might read with your children before bed, so why not revive this with some me time? Reading a book as part of your bedtime routine can be very beneficial to your sleep and it’s a great way to relax and unwind after a hard day’s work.
If you’ve ever questioned: why is it good to read before bed? We’ve got you covered. Discover all the benefits of a good night’s reading session here as we explore all the goodness provided by a bedtime book.
There are many advantages to bedtime reading as an adult. Here are just a few:
Reading is a great way to relieve stress, and research has shown that those who read before bed are likely to see their stress levels reduce by as much as 68%.
The idea is that, as we immerse ourselves further into a book, the further away our problems become. Doing so just before bed allows us to completely clear our minds of worries from the day gone, leaving us to sink into a relaxing sleep.
Reading at any time of day is great for boosting your creativity levels, but perhaps even more so at bedtime. When we sleep, our brains go through various REM cycles, resulting in sometimes vivid, imaginative dreams.
When immersed in a book, we’re much more likely to experience the same fictitious environments in our sleep. So, if you’re after inspiration for a project or if you just want to boost your creativity, take a book to bed.
Let’s face it, reading can be hard. Amidst the distractions of daily life, it’s difficult to find the time to properly immerse ourselves within a story.
That’s why reading at bedtime is perhaps the most optimal way to do it. Dimming down the lights, and pulling up the covers with a hot beverage; the chance of distraction is reduced significantly. Doing this allows us to stay much more connected to a story, giving greater opportunities for immersion and overall enjoyment.
In a technology-led society, we are used to having everything we need at our fingertips. Rarely do we have to think about something for too long – that’s if we don’t want to, of course! This means that our lives are much more efficient but regularly hampered by poor concentration, as all of these gadgets mean our attention span is diminished – this is where reading comes in.
Reading in bed can be a great way of retraining your brain to focus on something for longer than a few minutes. If repeated, getting to the end of a chapter each night will mean it’s far more likely that our ability to concentrate for longer will increase.
Sleep can be trivial. Sometimes, we can’t wait to hit the hay and hunker down for a good eight hours; other times, it seems like our brains want to do anything but. Reading is a good way to counteract overstimulation before bedtime, forcing us to slow down and take a breath.
Bright screens are notoriously bad for preventing good sleeping practice. So, to keep your thoughts from running laps around your brain, consider picking up a book. Relaxing stories are preferred, whereas horror tales can actually have the opposite effect, keeping us awake well beyond our natural bedtime.
This benefit is of course dependent on the type of books you enjoy, but generally, going to sleep after digesting positive content (especially written) can help boost our moods. This is particularly important after receiving some bad news, or after a long hard day in the office.
Ensuring that you’re happy before sleep goes a long way, and is crucial in improving mental wellbeing.
If you’re particularly invested in a book, the last thing you’ll want to do is forget the plotline.
Reading at night-time allows us to better process the information we’ve just digested. Finishing a particularly difficult chapter? Don’t worry if you’re confused, your brain shall work its magic overnight to help you condense information and realign your thoughts.
This is especially helpful when reading self-help books, as books of this nature are filled with guidance, advice and information on a multitude of topics.
Regardless of how much time you dedicate towards reading, you’ll struggle for consistent sleep quality and quantity if your mattress no longer provides the support and comfort it once did. With this in mind, explore our affordable mattresses and enhance your night’s sleep. With incentives such as free next working day delivery and our 60-night sleep trial, we’re keen to ensure a seamless shopping experience.
