I used to stay up watching random YouTube videos late into the night and barely getting 4 hours of sleep. I’d also feel guilty about not reading enough since I have a list of over 100 books I want to read.
About 3 months ago, I decided to work on my sleep habits. I started going to bed at 10 pm, brushing my teeth at 9, and putting my phone away. I also stopped eating after 7 pm. Then, about a month ago, I started using that screen-free time for reading, and I’ve just finished my second book this way!
Reading before bed has really improved my sleep too—I feel more relaxed, and my worries drift away as I read. Fixing my sleep feels like fixing my life!
Good for you! Quick question: how do you actually put the book down? Whenever I try reading before bed, I end up getting so into the story that I don’t want to stop reading!
Niko said:
Good for you! Quick question: how do you actually put the book down? Whenever I try reading before bed, I end up getting so into the story that I don’t want to stop reading!
I started by sticking to a consistent bedtime, so my brain got used to winding down at that time. Then I added reading as part of that routine. It’s like in Atomic Habits, where you layer routines. I also check my watch to stop at a certain time. The goal is to read a little each night, which adds up over the year.
Niko said:
Good for you! Quick question: how do you actually put the book down? Whenever I try reading before bed, I end up getting so into the story that I don’t want to stop reading!
I have the same issue, but it helps to read non-fiction! If you’re prone to insomnia like me, even light non-fiction can be too stimulating, so I’d recommend something like a textbook or technical book.
Niko said:
Good for you! Quick question: how do you actually put the book down? Whenever I try reading before bed, I end up getting so into the story that I don’t want to stop reading!
Niko said:
Good for you! Quick question: how do you actually put the book down? Whenever I try reading before bed, I end up getting so into the story that I don’t want to stop reading!
I usually set a target, like reading 30 pages, and then I put the book down.
I used to do this too and then totally fell off. It’s 12:38 AM, and here I am commenting instead of sleeping. Thanks for the motivation—I’m going to get back into reading before bed.
Murphy said:
I used to do this too and then totally fell off. It’s 12:38 AM, and here I am commenting instead of sleeping. Thanks for the motivation—I’m going to get back into reading before bed.
I hope you get back to good sleep habits! I honestly hope I stick with it because the difference I feel between good sleep and my old habits is huge.
I also have a lot of books I want to read, especially self-help ones. Sometimes they make me too excited to sleep, though. I think switching to fiction or biographies might be a good idea.
It’s been about building small changes. First, I started going to bed at the same time. Then, I set an alarm to avoid screens an hour before bed, which helped me stay off my phone. I added brushing my teeth and getting ready with my son as part of that routine. Then I started working out in the mornings with him, stopped eating 3 hours before bed, and finally started reading after brushing my teeth.
Honestly, not eating before bed had the biggest impact on my sleep quality—I’m now consistently in the high 90s sleep score range on my Garmin watch. Reading, though, is the change that’s made me feel most fulfilled. I’m still working on it, but one thing at a time!
@Phoenix
Did you get hunger cravings when you first started not eating after 7 PM? I have a bad habit of snacking until 10:30, and I’ve tried stopping by 8 but still feel hungry. Sometimes I even wake up in the night “hungry.”
Dexter said: @Phoenix
Thanks! Super helpful info. What do you eat that’s high in fiber?
I switched from white rice to grains like quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat. I add chia or flax seeds to most meals, eat beans or lentils with almost every meal, and add fruits and veggies.
For example, breakfast today was scrambled eggs, kidney beans, farmer’s cheese, oatmeal with sunflower seeds, and figs with a little 100% cacao chocolate. My lunches are premade and loaded with fiber too. Dinners are smaller, often with high-fiber bread or veggies.
My meals may seem unconventional—no meat—but they’re full of protein and fiber, which keeps me full and meets all my nutritional needs.
@Phoenix
Did you know sunflower seeds are packed with niacin? Just 100g gives you over half your daily needs. Niacin helps lower cholesterol and reduces anxiety!
@Dexter
Maybe track your diet for a couple of weeks to see if there are any blood-sugar dips? Sometimes eating low-GI carbs for dinner can help. This EatingWell article has good tips.
Ashby said: @Dexter
Maybe track your diet for a couple of weeks to see if there are any blood-sugar dips? Sometimes eating low-GI carbs for dinner can help. This EatingWell article has good tips.
