Reading at night is an enjoyable and relaxing activity that many people enjoy. However, some unique challenges can present themselves and it includes the risk of discomfort and inadequate lighting, which can keep you awake and disturb your sleeping partner. Make sure to select your reading material wisely and prop yourself up with pillows to ensure comfort and support. If you read on a digital device, you should turn it off about an hour before bed, or turn off the blue light on the device.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Read Comfortably at Night
Step 1. Sit or lie down in a quiet and calm environment
Reading before bed is calming and helps prepare your mind and body for a good night's sleep. To get the most out of your bedtime reading, find a quiet space to read. If you have guests or friends at home, ask them to keep noise to a minimum.
- The brain is not made for multiple tasks, and if you try to watch TV and read at the same time, you will find that it is ineffective and frustrating. Turn off the noise from the TV and focus on reading.
- Light a candle to relax or set the mood while you read.
Step 2. Prop the pillows behind you to support your neck and back
Reading in bed can be bad for your posture if you allow yourself to hunch over. Therefore, it is important to sit or lie down in a way that does not cause any pain in your neck or back. Make sure you have the proper supports by using pillows or headrests to keep your back and neck as vertical as possible.
- If you are lying down or sitting on a sofa, add something useful, such as a horseshoe-shaped pillow or a large slanted pillow. Small neck pillows can also be helpful.
- Changing positions every 30 to 45 minutes can also help you avoid poor posture and can prevent neck or back discomfort.
- Bring the book to your face to help you slightly straighten your back.
Step 3. Read light fiction at night to prepare for sleep
If you tend to feel sleepy when you read at night, avoid reading technical nonfiction, dense poetry, or heavy fiction that asks too much of you intellectually. These genres will be difficult to follow if you are sleepy. So, read a light novel or short story at night. It will relax your mind and prepare you to sleep and dream.
If you are studying or finished work, consider doing the difficult reading earlier in the evening. That way, you can save a lighter reading for bedtime
Step 4. Attach a book light if you don't want bright lights in your room
There are many different versions of the clip-on book light, but they all work in basically the same way. Hold the clamp on the back cover of the book, place the spotlight on the page you are reading now, and turn on the light. Some book lights are designed to hook onto the edge of reading glasses. Any type of book light will keep the light source directly on the book and will not wake anyone else sleeping in the same room.
- You can buy clip-on book lights at department stores, bookstores, or online stores.
- Most book lights require 1 or 2 AA batteries.
Step 5. Get under the covers with a flashlight to read without being detected
If you try to read quietly and discreetly (for example, without waking your parents), crawl under the covers and pull the tops of the blankets over your head. Then shine a flashlight and point it at the book. The blankets will prevent light from seeping through, so you can read comfortably for as long as you like.
This approach may be impractical for an adult trying to avoid waking his partner in the same bed. Your partner may find the whispering under the covers even more annoying than sleeping with the lights on
Step 6. Avoid reading in the dark so as not to strain your eyes
When reading at night, you may be sitting in a dark room, straining and squinting to read the words on the page or screen. This can be exhausting and potentially damaging to your eyes. To avoid straining your eye reading at night, sit or lie down near a well-lit source. You can read by the light of a lamp or a light above.
If you need reading glasses, wear them. They will reduce the stress that makes your eyes feel tired
Step 7. Listen to an audiobook instead of reading
Instead of turning the pages of a printed book, try loading an e-book on your tablet or smartphone. That way you can put headphones on, hide any light source, and listen to a book in the dark, without waking up a sleeper. Just try to avoid falling asleep while the book is still playing, or you may lose your place.
You can download audiobooks through Kindle, Amazon, Google, or Apple online stores. Many public libraries also have audiobooks, either on CD or digitally
Method 2 of 3: Stay awake while you read
Step 1. Sit in bed to read to avoid falling asleep
Your mind likely associates bed rest with sleep, which can cause you to fall asleep while reading. If you find yourself in this situation, don't read in bed at night. Instead, lean back and sit comfortably on your bed while you read. Or read sitting or lying on the couch.
Experiment with different sitting positions to see if any of it helps you stay awake while you read
Step 2. Eat a light snack while you read
A light snack will give you something to eat while you read and can help you stay awake by giving your body some nighttime calories. Look for a relatively healthy option so you don't just eat empty calories, carbohydrates, and processed foods.
Try eating crackers, celery sticks, blueberries, or popcorn
Step 3. Drink a cold decaffeinated drink to keep you awake
Drinking a glass of ice water or lemonade will help you stay awake as you read at night. Sip the drink slowly as you read. Avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee, iced tea, or black tea. These drinks will keep you awake even after you are ready to fall asleep.
Also be aware that you may wake up in the middle of the night and need to use the bathroom if you drink too much fluids before bed
Step 4. Get 7-9 hours of sleep every night so you're less tired when you read
Reading at night while deprived of sleep will make your tiredness worse. You can even fall asleep while reading. If you are over 18 years old, you should get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. If you find that you sleep less than that, try reducing your reading time and spending more time sleeping.
- If you are between 6 and 13 years old, you should get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep every night.
- If you are between 14 and 17 years old, try to sleep between 8 and 10 hours.
Method 3 of 3: Read on a digital device
Step 1. Choose a digital device to read
Depending on personal preferences and what is available, it can be an e-reader, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Select a device that you can read easily (avoid squinting or straining to read). If you want to hold the device while you read in bed, choose a device that is a bit light and that you can hold easily.
Some digital devices suitable for reading come with a stand, or you can purchase one separately, to allow hands-free reading
Step 2. Keep the digital readout only at night and early in the evening
Avoid reading on a digital device before bed, or if you read late at night. The bright blue light from a digital display can slow or suppress the release of melatonin, the hormone that regulates your circadian clock and helps you feel sleepy.
It is a good idea to lower the brightness level of the reading screen and stop reading on the device approximately 2 hours before your scheduled bedtime
Step 3. Turn off the blue light on your device when you read late
Many devices have a built-in setting that allows you to turn off the disruptive blue light. Do some research in your device settings and turn on the blue light blocker if you read after it's dark outside. With this setting enabled, you can read late without interrupting your sleep pattern.
If your smartphone or tablet does not have a blue light turn off feature, search the app store for an app that performs this feature. Just search for "blue light" and see the results
Advice
- If you like to read at night on the bus, in a car (as a passenger), or while camping, use a good spotlight app, the flashlight, or a flashlight app on your smartphone. It will help you see the text, usually without disturbing anyone else.
- The idea that reading in dim or dark light will damage your eyes is a myth. However, you may feel eyestrain from over-exerting yourself to read in low light.
- Android Oreo's Night Light feature helps you read in low light. It can also help you sleep more relaxed.