Winding down with a good old-fashioned book can boost your physical and mental health.
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Theres nothing like cracking open a new book or diving into an old favorite.
On average, most adults take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep.
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This is known as sleep latency, orhow quickly you fall asleep.
Blue light, which occurs naturally in daylight, basically signals to the body that it should wake up.
Reading with a night light or dim light in the background is best for promoting sleepiness.
Reading can reduce stress and calm racing thoughts.
Did you know that reading just six pages of a book canreduce stressby up to 68 percent?
This makes reading an easy habit to form for anyone, Hall says.
Reading allows our brains to practice mindfulness and cultivate a greater sense of calm.
Dopamine and serotonin are two feel-good neurotransmitters involved in the sleep-wake cycle.
Reading can boost cognitive function.
It helps improve memory and boost overall cognitive function, keeping your mind sharp and agile.
Reading improves the brain’s ability to process information quickly and keeps it sharp as we age.
Theyscroll on their phones, and sometimes mindlessly.
Were all guilty of it, Hall says.
Hall says the same can be said for watching TV.
Secondly, the content of what you watch can also affect your sleep quality.
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American Academy of Sleep Medicine.AASM Sleep Prioritization Survey Reading Past Bedtime.
Accessed April 19, 2023.
2021;33(1):63-74. doi:10.1017/S1041610220000812
