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The concept of wellness has come to include a wide array of things: everything from meditation and mindfulness to healthy juices, workout crazes, and more.
But this month, publisher Penguin Random House is making the excellent case that reading is a form of wellness, too. And while many forms of wellness can be quite expensive (hello, juice plans!), reading costs nothing more than a trip to the neighborhood library.
Penguin Random House has partnered with homeware company Parachute to launch their #readtosleep campaign in conjunction with Sleep Awareness Month.
Reading before bed has been shown to improve sleep quality, which in turn can reduce stress hormones, boost mood, enhance cognitive skills and decision-making, and consolidate memories.
On the flip side, scrolling through Twitter (and getting angry at how awful everyone is online) or binge-watching shows does not boast the same effects.
On the contrary: The blue-light exposure from the TV or screen can delay the onset of REM sleep and leave you feeling less than rested the next morning.
Blue light can get the brain to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy; it’s why you might find that you feel wired instead of relaxed after watching TV at night.
Minds need an escape from a day of sitting in front of a computer and pinging alerts and notifications.
“The mental, physical, and emotional benefits of reading are profound, and as the biggest publisher in the world we really think it’s our mission to get that message out there,” says Kelsey Manning, Senior Marketing Manager at Penguin Random House.
“And no shade to anyone’s exorbitant skin-care routines — including my own — but a book is a much more accessible form of self-care than most wellness products ...It’s been so gratifying to see people connecting with this message — so many people have been using the hashtag #readtosleep to sign off Instagram for the night, or reaching out to tell me that swapping phone for book has actually helped them fall asleep faster. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.”
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