Five Reasons Why You Should Read Before Bed

We all have our own bedtime routines and rituals, be it cramming in another episode of your current Netflix binge or scrolling through social media on your phone until the early hours. But one sure-fire way to help guarantee a better night’s sleep is to settle in with a good book at a reasonable hour. From an early age, we are encouraged to read more as it improves focus and communication skills, but it’s also a good way to help better our sleeping patterns and improve our quality of life.

Read on below for five reasons why settling in with a good book in the evening can do you the world of good.

Reading Reduces Screen Time

As technology has advanced, we’ve all become reliant on smartphones and many of us are guilty of spending an unnecessary amount of time scrolling through social media platforms and flipping from app to app during the evening. TV’s, iPads and computers, amongst other devices, are all advised to be avoided for at least 90 minutes prior to sleep to prevent a restless night.

The main reason for avoiding screens is that the blue light emitted by the screens of your devices slows the production of melatonin, which is the hormone that controls your circadian rhythm (your sleep-wake cycle). This makes it harder to fall asleep and to crawl out of your bed in the morning.

It Can Help Relieve And Reduce Stress

Reading is known to have relaxing properties and getting lost in a novel can help with temporary escapism from stressful, real-life situations. It is important to give our mind and bodies the TLC it needs and keeping ourselves relaxed has many benefits for our health. When looking to de-stress, it’s wise to opt for a novel focused on a topic you love or are deeply interested in, or a non-fiction focused health and wellness book.

Sleep Quality Can Improve

As reading is an activity that is done whilst sitting or lying down, it helps to relax the body and mind. When reading before or in bed, as it works the brain without active physical stimulation, it can help induce slumber and improve quality of sleep throughout the night.

It Boosts Concentration

Reading is fundamental to a child’s development, teaching them to listen, communicate and focus from an early age. This is something that as an adult, we can continue to benefit from by reading too. Dedicating time before bed to diving into a good book can help improve your vocabulary, keep the mind focused and help boost concentration.

It Can Improve Mental Health

Day-to-day stress can have a detrimental effect on our personal lives and general well-being. Taking the time out each night to read a little before bed is a great way to wind down and detox the mind before sleep. A calming activity like reading is a great way to improve your mood, mindset and overall mental health. It also helps to create a routine, dedicating an amount of time each night specifically for reading.

Reading before bed is a great sleeping aid. Though it’s advised to avoid using tablets and e-readers in the bedroom at night, delving into a paperback or hardback before bed has many benefits to not only help with short-term sleeping struggles but to our overall mental health and well-being.

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