The new science of sleep is here, and it has a lot to teach us. Many of us are now familiar with the importance of a good night’s rest and its role in regulating stress and cardiovascular health, but not everyone knows what habits they need to implement to get that good night’s rest. Many people these days fall asleep to either TV or some other bright screen. This actually makes it much harder to get a good night’s rest due to the blue light emitted from TV, computer, and phone screens. By replacing the TV or computer with reading a book, you can significantly improve your sleep quality and overall health. Here are some of the benefits that you can get from starting this habit.
Reduced Stress
An important part of getting a good night’s rest is lowering the amount of stress you have as you fall asleep. In today’s world, most people’s lives are filled with lots of activity and stress, and winding down at the end of the day can often pose a challenge. Reading is an easy yet powerful way of mitigating stress because it keeps your mind active enough not to wander but is not overly stimulating to the point of causing added stress.
By de-stressing with a book before bed, you allow yourself to get a better night’s rest. This, in turn, creates a less stressful day when you wake up, creating a domino effect of wellness.
Improved Memory and Cognition
Sleep is a vital part of the process of sharpening your mind. It is during sleep that our memories are organized and stored in the consolidation process. For this reason, reading before sleep can have the benefit of improving your mental faculties.
Aside from the benefits of reading to ease stress and improve sleep, studies show that leisurely activities by themselves have the effect of improving memory and cognition. Some research even suggests that leisurely reading can decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Regardless of your personal health needs and concerns, hopefully, now you can see the benefits of easing your mind with a good book before sleep! Want to find out more? Then reach out to us here at Crossroads Dental!