Reading before bed has been a ritual for me as long as I can remember. As a kid, I’d read until my mom told me to turn out the light. Now, I read while my husband brushes his teeth. Even in college, when I’d be up until after midnight and need to be up early again the next day, I would read at least two pages before turning out the light. It’s helped me to calm down before bed, even if a plot is ramping up.
I have to admit that in the past few years since smartphones have become a steady part of our lives, I’ve slipped a bit. I’ll check Instagram for cute baby pictures and Facebook to see new movie trailers. And then I won’t read as many pages because it’s later and I’m already so tired of reading status updates.
And it seems I’m not alone. I found this article which talks about what a fleeting experience reading in bed is. It’s an experience that hasn’t been around a long time and that looks to be going away quickly. And that makes me sad.
Having no screen-time before bed is supposed to promote healthier sleep. Books, real paper books, can do that. As easy as it is to watch a video or read an article, I continue to force myself to put my phone down and pick up some words printed on a page. I really hope this isn’t a fad. It’s a tradition I plan to pursue for the rest of my life.
Do you read in bed? Printed word or ebook? I’m curious if anyone else agrees with me on the health benefits of reading before bed.
Until next time, write on.
You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!
Taking On a World of Words 
eBook. Lights are out, I know I should be going to sleep but there I am reading away usually via the kindle app on my phone. I definitely feel more settled to sleep after taking in a few pages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s great that ebooks and paper books can help us fall asleep. I wonder how much of it is just routine. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mostly ebooks these days but also the printed word. And I’m planning to buy a bookmark for my paperbacks that says: ‘fell asleep here’ 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
How cute! I love it. Most of my reading is after 9pm so it would be very accurate for me as well. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mostly ebooks for me as well, though I do have plenty of print books, pick them up at the library often, and read them when it suits me. And I read in bed nearly every day. If I’m reading, it’s usually in bed. My preferred place to read. Though I tend to vegetate on my phone for anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes until I feel sleepy. I know it isn’t in line with what everyone says about screen time and bed time, but it’s become part of my routine, and routine is critical for me so…reading time until I start to feel tired, then screen time until I can’t keep my eyes open. 🙂
LikeLike
Interesting, I’m the opposite order. I check my phone before I grab a book. I guess it’s easier to reread a page if I get tired than to resend a text, haha. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can only read one book at a time, I’m usually listening to another book but the different mediums help me keep the books straight. So it depends on what book I’m reading. If it’s a book that I have as an E-book I’m reading on my tablet, if it’s a physical book, then I’m reading that. I do have the settings in the kindle app set so that screen isn’t super bright, but don’t really think that matters. I find it the best way to fall asleep.
LikeLike
I was thinking about brightness settings when I wrote this. I feel I’m very sensitive to screens so if I was reading an ebook before bed, I’d have to turn the brightness all the way down. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I read on the bed as well, I have paper books on my night table. But to be honest I don’t physically enjoy reading on the bed 😦 I get headaches if I over do it, but in small amounts it is, as you said, relaxing. It feels almost like a ritual 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
For longer times, I usually read in an armchair. My neck hurts if I read in bed too long. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yep, I do the same 😀
LikeLike
I’m always reading in bed, e-book or paperback reading for hours well into the night, always have done, always will.
LikeLike
I used to read a lot later than I do now. I’m too tired haha. Happy reading!
LikeLike
I read e-books in bed; the hardcover versions are too heavy when I’m tired!
But lately I have been lounging on the couch longer, knowing that I’m more likely to stay awake and keep reading if I do.
The bedroom is not as conducive to reading…there I watch TV, or scroll on the phone. My e-book sometimes falls to the floor when I try reading there.
LikeLike
I have a strict No TV in the bedroom policy but smartphones have really blurred that line. Glad you found something that works for you. Happy reading!
LikeLike
No, I don’t read in bed. I’m a coffee shop or bakery and cozy chair by the fire reader ~ at least during the winter. I prefer a printed book. 🙂
LikeLike
I have a favorite armchair for my afternoon reading. I find it more comfortable for long stretches of reading. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have always read in bed. Can’t see it stopping anytime soon 🙂
LikeLike
I honestly can’t remember a time I didn’t. Happy reading!
LikeLike
I read in bed for an hour or so every night. It can be either on my Kindle or a physical book, just depends on what I’m reading.
LikeLike
Wow, an hour! I’m jealous you get that long. I usually get ten minutes before I’m snoozing, haha. Happy reading!
LikeLike
Exactly the same thing has happened to me. I check my phone rather than read my book. It’s a habit I’m trying to reverse
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a hard one to break. Good luck and be strong! 😊 Happy reading!
LikeLike
I️ never read in bed growing up…I️ found I️ couldn’t get comfortable except laying down and then I️ was too tired haha I️ prefer reading in a chair or on the couch. I’ve been into this terrible routine of playing on my phone before bed and staying up wayyyy too late. Now my rule is no phone after 10:00 no matter where I’m at in the house! Sometimes I️ slip, but it’s still a new routine in the works. I️ go to sleep much faster now. I’ve started trying to read a couple pages before going to sleep to help me wind down and become tired. (works like a charm lol) always physical books! I️ can’t hack an ebook. I️ have too much screen time at work, so I️ don’t like reading a book digitally. I️ do have a couple ARC’s that are digital and I’m going to have to break down and get them finished. Then no more for me, cause the ebook just isn’t working out haha
So, 5 rabbit trails later….I️ am starting to read in bed
LikeLike
Awesome! I feel the same way about screens. Nine hours a day at work is enough! Developing a new habit is really hard, best of luck!! I should be putting my phone down soon so I can wind down before bed. I’ll say this is my last comment tonight! Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read on my phone all the time and yes most of the time before I sleep.
LikeLike
Do you think the screen time makes it harder to sleep? I know it would for me. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t sleep without it actually! 😛 Happy reading to you, too! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I avoid reading in/before bed mostly because I have a tendency to fall asleep while reading if I find myself too comfortable. I used to be able to when I was a kid, but since adulthood it’s not realistic for me, especially when I was reading for university. Deciding to get some reading done in bed was pretty much a guarantee a quota would not be met and an open book would be on my chest in the morning.
LikeLike
I’ve never been able to reach the point of a book on my chest. I usually put anion mark in seconds before falling asleep. I don’t read for school in bed for the same reason you say, just for fun. Happy reading!
LikeLike
I didn’t grow up reading before bed. It was part of homework time, and then when I got up older I would just read whenever I didn’t have anything else to do. Now as an adult I don’t read every night before bed. I try to – in fact, I’ve talked about that for the last few weeks in my WWW posts about falling asleep trying to read at least a few pages. I do, however, read on my Kindle.
LikeLike
Good luck trying to develop a new habit, it can be hard. Happy reading!
LikeLike
Yep reading in bed great way to start eyes closing!
LikeLike
Truth! I love making my eyes heavy with a book. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read in bed. But usually I’m so tired by the time I hit the bed that I only get a few pages in.
LikeLike
I’ve been like that lately. Sometimes I treat myself and go to bed early just to read haha. Happy reading!
LikeLike