You already know reading before bed is good for you, so I’ll skip the intro and get right into it.
Don’t feel you have to stick to books
Reading before bed does not have to mean classic novels worthy of a book club. Poems, magazines, newspapers, articles, or even a few pages of something familiar all count.
Keep your reading material in a convenient place
If your book lives across the room or in another room entirely, you are unlikely to reach for it when you are tired. Put it by your bed and you’ll be more likely to get started.
Treat it like an activity, not a challenge
You are not trying to finish books, compare progress or prove anything to anyone. Do it for the sake of reading itself, and do it for you, not anyone else.
Accept that there will always be a little bit of resistance
There will usually be a quiet voice suggesting you scroll or watch TV instead. That resistance is normal and it does not mean you are doing it wrong. I’ve been bedtime reading for years, and I still get the urge to scroll instead (and sometimes I do).
Put your phone to bed first
It’s going to be really hard to ignore that nagging voice if your phone is right there on the table next to you. Put it away. Really away. In a drawer or cupboard on silent, or better yet, outside the bedroom. Then when you get into bed, reading doesn’t have to compete with it, and becomes the obvious choice over doing absolutely nothing.
Get the lighting right
Reading when the light is too bright will have the opposite effect and keep you awake later. A dimmable lamp or a small reading light enables your brain to continue preparing for sleep while you read.
Read what you love until you love to read
This is not the moment for aspirational books you think you should enjoy. Start with what genuinely holds your attention, even if it feels unserious.
Don’t take it too seriously
No one is keeping score. There is no perfect streak to maintain, and missing a night does not undo anything. I find it helps to ignore how far into a book I am or how much I’ve got left. I’m doing it to enjoy what’s on the page in front of me and to help me get the best night’s sleep possible, not complete a challenge.
Try to persuade your partner to do it too
Reading together can turn it into a shared ritual rather than a solo discipline. If they want to go to sleep before you, maybe you could even read some of your book to them, I find that it’s just as relaxing.
Accept that it might not be for you
Some people find that reading stimulates their mind rather than settles it. If that sounds like you, don’t worry about it, but do see if you can find other nightcare activities that help you stay away from your phone and get ready for the best night’s sleep possible.
- That’s all for now, sleep tight,
Sleep Toniq
