Having a scheduled time to read each day helps make reading a habit and ensures you hit your reading goal, whether that’s to read a book a month or each week. But when trying to block out the time, many bookworms (or aspiring bookworms) wonder: “Should I read in the morning or at night?”
The answer isn’t as simple as you might think. Whether you do your reading in the morning versus at night depends on different variables, including what kind of lighting or device you’re using to read, if you’re more of an early bird or a night owl, and the types of books you’re reading.
If you’re trying to create a daily reading habit, here are some clear pros and cons to reading while the sun is shining and/or when the stars are twinkling.
Reading at night
The main benefit of reading at night is relaxation. The best time to read during the night is right before you go to sleep. Immersing yourself in a story before bed can be a great way to leave behind the stresses of the day and prepare yourself for a restful slumber.
One study performed by Mindlab International researchers at the University of Sussex showed that just six minutes of reading could reduce stress by up to 68%, which perfectly sets the stage for more peaceful sleep.
“Reading at night is a fantastic way to wind down before you go to sleep,” says Seth R. Davis, a certified sleep coach. “It's a relaxing activity that gives your mind something better to focus on than to-do lists, worries, and stressful thoughts that can potentially affect your sleep. If you're looking for a calm and enjoyable addition to your nightly routine — which is something that contributes to better sleep — then you should strongly consider reading a book,” he says.
However, the book you choose might influence the best time of day for reading.
Davis goes on to say, “If you find that certain types of books get your mind racing, you may want to choose books that are more calming for you. For example, some people find that thought-provoking nonfiction keeps their minds alert while fiction lets them escape into an entertaining story.”
Reading in the morning
Dr. Sean P. A. Drummond, a professor of clinical neuroscience, agrees that, among other things, whether you’re reading for relaxation or learning might influence the best time of day to read.
He also emphasizes how lighting can influence circadian rhythms. While reading itself doesn’t affect daily rhythms, Drummond says, “the light you use to read very well might. That is especially true for light coming off electronic devices. Light is high in blue wavelengths. Blue, in turn, is the strongest signal to your brain that it is time to be awake.”
If you’re reading on a device like a smartphone or tablet, reading in the morning is best, because it could help you wake up earlier or feel more awake in the morning. He says, “If you [read on a device] in the morning, it might help you wake up and, with repeats, could pull your rhythms forward (earlier).”
Reading at night and in the morning
There are benefits to reading at any time of the day, so the good news is you don’t have to choose. In fact, it could be advantageous to read both right before going to sleep and right when you wake up.
According to Maryanne Wolf, author of Reader, Come Home, starting and ending the day with a good book could be ideal. “I book-ended my days with 15 minutes in the morning to center my thoughts through reflective reading, rather than shallow. This was important for situating the rest of my day, with its hours of screen reading,” she says.
“At the end of the day, I eschewed all screen devices and read again in a more concentrated manner, often fiction like Marilynne Robinson or Gish Jen, or nonfiction that took my mind away from the day. In other words, both times of day have their function for keeping my deep reading brain sustained.”
The bottom line
Whether it’s better to read in the morning or at night — or both — depends on your personal preferences and energy levels, the types of books you choose, and the medium through which you’re reading. These elements are important to keep in mind when trying to create your own daily reading habit.
About the Author: Alison Doherty
Alison is a writing teacher and part time assistant professor living in Brooklyn, New York. She has an MFA from The New School in writing for children and teenagers. She loves writing about books on the Internet, listening to audiobooks on her way to work, and reading anything with a twisty plot or a happily ever after.
