Is there anything more delightful than heading to bed early to spend some time with a book? I don’t think so! I always try to make time at the end of my day to do some old fashioned, uninterrupted book reading.
A brief disclaimer, reading before bed won’t work for everyone. Especially if you have an addictive personality. It may cause you to stay up even later just so you can finish a chapter or few!
If you’re like me and you can stand to doze off after a couple chapters, read on for the 8 reasons I shut myself in with books at the end of the day.
1. It’s Part Of A Nightly Ritual
Rituals and routines give our lives structure. They allow us to free up our mind for the more important things in life by simply following a pattern. Otherwise, we’d busy our mind with the truly mundane! Reading is the final step in my night time routine. It’s the goal I work towards and the ultimate treat.
Source: Giphy
2. It’s Me Time
When I’m reading before bed it’s ‘me’ time. I’m no longer accountable to anyone and I can just spend some time doing what I want. It’s a relief after a stressful day. Sometimes I’ve been running around with no direction or grasping at straws. Bedtime reading is a great opportunity to check in with myself.
Source: Giphy
3. Gives Me Deeper Sleep And Better Dreams
If I go to bed without reading I can really tell the difference. Reading before bed allows me to fall asleep more deeply. My dreams tend to be better, too, because they are less chaotic and more influenced by the story the night before. Sweet dreams!
Source: Giphy
4. No One To Impress
Sometimes I can get self-conscious reading in public! Whether I’m on the bus or at the cafe, I can feel people’s eyes on me as they check out the title I’m reading. If you read in secret before bed, there are no prying eyes. I can read whatever I want however I want.
Source: Giphy
5. Self Care
Reading is literally good for you. It opens you up to new ideas and ways of thinking. It actively improves your vocabulary. I’ve always thought that it helped my communication skills as well. You’re always learning new things when reading. It’s a good investment in yourself!
Source: Giphy
6. Whittle Away At Heavy Classics
If you’ve always wanted to finish reading Ulysses or War and Peace you might want to try whittling away at it each night. If you try to read just 10 pages before bed each night it’s surprising how far you can get!
Source: Giphy
7. Calms My Anxiety
Reading helps me keep my anxiety in check. If I notice that I am having trouble focusing, I sit back for a moment. The reflection helps calm my mind and I can go back to focus on my reading. It helps me tune out the rest of my day, slowly but surely, so that I’m properly wound down.
Source: Giphy
8. It’s Good Enough For Kids
They say that to take care of yourself, you need to treat yourself like you would a small child. Make sure you get fresh air, time to play, and that you go to bed at a decent hour. Kids always get stories before bedtime, so it makes sense that it would work for us older ones too.
Source: Giphy
Thanks for reading our list! We hope that you make the effort to go to bed early tonight to get some alone time with a great story.
YouTube Channel: The Paris Review
Featured image via Candle and Book
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