Do you read before bed?

[CosyNightsJay]

I’ve never really been into reading at night - the thought of trying to focus when I’m already tired has always put me off. But I’ve just bought a new sleep candle and now I’m wondering if reading before bed might actually be a nice way to wind down? Light the candle, have a little read, let it do its thing… seems quite cosy in theory.

AIBU to think I might finally become a bedtime reader or does everyone else do this already?

Every night, but I find I fight sleep to keep reading, it’s lead to a lot of 2am bedtimes!

Most nights
But then I'll read any time of day really

Yes, since I can remember. Occasionally I am too tired, but otherwise it’s my wind down.

I read in bed to slow my brain. I frequently wake during the night and continue reading, sometimes only for a few minutes until I drop off again. That the Kindle switches off after 5 minutes is a source of joy for me - no stressing about wasting electric on a light bulb I've left on for hours.

I use a Kindle so no need for a reading light. I sleep and read on my side with the Kindle propped up on a small beanbag. I was getting neck pain (and a cold hand during winter) from turning the page. I discovered a page turner from Amazon and it's a godsend. No more stiff neck or cold hand. My hand is down by my hip where I can click the remote button and the page miraculously turns by itself.

Search Kindle page turner. I paid £7 for the kit which comes as a small remote plus a receiver that clips to the Kindle. Both are USB-C rechargeable. The charge lasts a good while. I charge all three at the same time and I'm good to go for a few weeks.

“NotMeNoNo · Today 22:38

I read in bed until my kindle falls out of my hand, basically.”

This!

Every night. Be it a page, 10 minutes or an hour.
Longer at weekends. It's a habit, like the gym. Even if it don't fancy it, I do it.

I read before everything, including bed 😄

I don't read in bed because I share a bed with DH

You could with a kindle paperwhite. That is why I only read kindle books these days.

In answer to the OP I always read every night.

What’s a sleep candle?

Every night since i was 6, and i’m 140 now (give or take).

God knows, but Dior are selling a candle for £580 (I found this after googling "Sleep candle"). Talk about literally burning your money!

If you’re having trouble dropping off, you could just chloroform yourself to sleep every night, and save yourself the best part of £600.

I can't sleep unless I read.

I try using my library app but as it's on my phone I'm tempted to start chatting to copilot or doom scroll.

I have a Kindle but never use it unless I'm on holiday and sitting in the sun.

Yes, I’ve read in bed ever since I was little and first learned to read. Always been a night owl and a bad sleeper, and i have to read myself to sleep.

When I see people in TV dramas just get into bed and turn the light straight out it looks so wrong to me.

I do read before bed. To be fair, I read pretty much constantly, I get through about 100 pages a day, but usually around 40 of them are at bed time.

the thought of trying to focus when I’m already tired has always put me off

This interested me though. Reading doesn't involve effort for me. I don't have to focus to read a book. I find a TV show or film requires more effort than a book.

I could read if I went to bed earlier but most nights it’s around midnight sadly and too tired by then.
need to prioritise myself more.

Always read before bed and if I wake up at night or a bit earlier I like to read. I have a kindle. I think reading is a really nice way to wind down.

I usually work late at night, so am too tired to actually read by the time I get into bed, but I fall asleep with an audio book (on a timer so I never miss more than a few minutes). But tonight I delighted DP with an offer of an 'early night' to read our books. Actually.
Currently re-reading Shikasta by Doris Lessing for the nth time, and DP is reading (for the first time) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. A perfect end to the evening.

Yes, it works like a charm for calming me down to sleep. Or it did until recently, anyway... I'm having awful trouble with sleep since I had possible Covid a few weeks ago 😫

I like to choose something pleasant and comforting for bed reading. I love thrillers, chills and horrors, but those are for daytime. At night I like either one or the 19th century classics or something light and happy like PG Wodehouse or Discworld. I'm doing a full Discworld reread this year. I'm up to the wonderful Witches Abroad 🧙

Same here 😊

Yes, at least 30-60 mins before I sleep - it's just ingrained in me as a habit because we were always allowed to keep the light on for longer if we were reading as kids. Same with my children - they go to bed at a certain time but are then allowed to read for 30 minutes before turning off the light. I don't think I've ever gone to bed without reading except when drunk!

Always used to as a child and mum would usually put the book on the side table when she came up where I'd fallen asleep reading it! Just starting to get back into it after way too many years of not. Kindle app on my phone makes it much easier.

Yes, almost always read (a book) before I go to sleep.
No phones or tablets in the bedroom, a good read (10-45mins) is usually enough to make my eyes tired so I drop off to sleep immediately I close the book.

This appears to be an actual candle with a real flame? Surely you won't be lighting this then getting into bed to try to go to sleep? That seems like a big fire risk.