How to Create a Reading Before Bedtime Routine That Actually Helps You Relax
Are you looking for a reading before bedtime routine that actually helps you relax and unwind? This is the tested and approved relaxing reading for sleep routine that actually makes me excited for bed, and set up for the next morning.
This routine has transformed my life. I wake up feeling so much more refreshed and actually excited for my day. It really is true that a good morning starts with a good evening routine. My life wasn’t always like this…
The problem is, evenings are overstimulating when you work a 9-5. Food has to be cooked, exercise needs to be done, house needs to be tidied and sleep needs to be had in an adequate amount. No wonder we end up feeling stressed and burnt out. The world is just slightly… overwhelming.
What I didn’t realise was that I was the culprit of my own stress. I wasn’t relaxing in any meaningful way. I’d have a busy day and I would feel like I deserved to sit down and watch TV, the problem is one episode would turn into a few, and suddenly it was bedtime and I wouldn’t feel very relaxed. Just… bored and numb.
TV can be a great way to relax, don’t get me wrong. But when it becomes the default after a day at work, life begins to feel a little bland. For me, anyway. That is why it was so important to me to do something daily that filled up my cup.
The thing about reading before bedtime is we feel like we have too little time or too little energy. But it seriously doesn’t require much extra effort.
This post is all about creating a reading before bedtime routine that will actually help you relax and feel energised for the next morning. No blue light disrupting your sleep, no numbing the evenings, just you and your book.
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Why Most “Reading Before Bedtime Routines” Don’t Work
Most evening routine’s fail pretty hard and fast. This is for a few reasons. The main reason is they are not designed for busy, tired people who work 9-5’s. The majority of night time routines we see a lot on social media are designed by influencers with a lot of money, and a lot of time.
These routines are too aesthetic, it’s not realistic to fall asleep in a perfectly tidy house with your to do list entirely completed. I know when I go to sleep there’s nearly always something I have decided is not important enough to lose sleep over and can consequently be pushed onto tomorrow.
Many of these routines are also too rigid, real life is messy. Things come up. Plans change. And a lot of us also fit our routines around another person’s, which is where it gets interesting.
Unfortunately, for many people reading has become just another thing ‘to do’ with no real pleasure attached. To truly have a routine that involves reading, that mindset needs to shift. It’s not a thing you have to do, it’s a thing you get to do.
With that simple mind shift I genuinely look forward to reading at the end of the day. It’s like a little reward. A ‘well done, you’ve made it through the day with minimal blood, sweat and tears, here’s a book’.
What a Reading Before Bed Routine Should Be
Ultimately, a night routine should support rest, and set you up well for the next day. It should be flexible to your busy schedule and should be about enjoyment over creating another checklist.
Reading before bed should be done with no page goals and no time goals, its you time. So put on those over priced eye patches Tiktok made you but, light your favourite candle, brew that peppermint and liquorice tea that you are addicted to, and curl up into bed.
As this is now you’re time, make sure your teeth are brushed, pyjamas are on, bags are packed, alarm is set and bed is clear of clutter. As long as all the essentials are out of the way, you can get into bed and chose to relax. If you’re struggling to focus, put on crackling fire ambience or rain sounds to romanticise this time.
Oh… and if you’re boyfriend is being annoying or watching videos about watch mechanics without headphones into the night, kick him out, the bedroom is for peaceful relaxation.
To Book or to Audiobook
Both are great for relaxation. Switching things up offers many advantages.
9/10 I am in bed reading a physical book but I do like to switch things up occasionally.
Audiobooks are great for if you are struggling to sleep, the ability to put on a sleep timer means you can listen to a story while you drift of. Of course this is comforting and a great way to feel safe as you fall asleep.
Audiobooks are also great for those nights you really want to read but can’t go to sleep with a messy house. Listening to audiobooks as you clean and cook is a great way to get reading into your routine. And yes, it still counts.
[Related Post- The Life Changing Benefits of Listening to Audiobooks]
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Create Small Signals That It’s “Reading Time”
Your brain associates time and spaces with specific activities. This is a great thing to use to your advantage. If you have a level of consistency, even if it’s just the same tea or the same lighting, your brain will begin to make associations between that and reading. These small signals let your brain know it’s reading time, and time to relax.
Lighting is a great one. Avoid harsh lighting and use candles to create ambience and peace.
Light some incense or use an essential oil diffuser, scents like lavender will help you unwind.
Brew the same tea in the evenings.
Use the same playlist to create a romantic and ambient atmosphere.
Remember, it’s all about consistency not perfection. It doesn’t matter if you’re routine doesn’t look aesthetic, as long as it feels right to you.
Let Reading Replace, Not Compete With, Scrolling
One of the biggest reasons reading can feel hard in the evening is because it’s competing with something designed to hijack our attention. Scrolling doesn’t just fill time, it fragments it. By the end of the day, most of us are mentally exhausted, not because we’ve done too much thinking, but because our attention has been pulled in too many directions.
Reading works in the opposite way. Instead of constantly switching focus, it gently holds your attention in one place. This is incredibly calming for the nervous system. Whether it’s a familiar story or an audiobook playing in the background, reading helps your brain slow down rather than stay in a heightened, reactive state.
If reading feels like too much after a long day, it’s completely okay to start small. Five or ten minutes is more than enough. Often, the pressure to read properly is what stops us from reading at all. Even a few pages can act as a bridge between a busy day and a calmer evening, and, sometimes, that’s all you need.
When Reading Still Feels Hard
Even with the best intentions, there will be evenings where reading just doesn’t click, and that’s normal. Reading slumps happen, energy levels fluctuate, and some days your brain simply wants rest rather than stimulation. That doesn’t mean reading has failed you.
On those days, it can help to change the format instead of forcing yourself through a book. Switching to an audiobook, revisiting a comfort read, or choosing something lighter can make all the difference. Reading doesn’t have to look the same every day to still be meaningful.
If this is something you struggle with often, you might find it helpful to revisit my post on how to get out of a reading slump, or try a low-pressure approach like book bingo, where prompts guide your choices without demanding too much mental energy. Sometimes structure helps , and sometimes permission to rest does too.
At its core, a reading night routine isn’t about being productive or reading a certain number of pages. It’s about creating moments of calm in a world that rarely encourages us to slow down. Reading doesn’t need to impress anyone or tick a box, it just needs to be enjoyed.
If reading brings you comfort, that’s reason enough to make space for it. Calm will always matter more than productivity.
This Post as all about How to Create a Reading Before Bedtime Routine That Actually Helps You Relax
What does a relaxing reading night look like for you?
