I’ve always loved to read, but I’m guilty of using the age-old excuse. 

“I don’t have time for books.”

I mean, how can I? I’m a full-time mom, part-time BCBA, and I run 2 small side businesses (and now a blog!). Plus the upkeep of a house is arguably a job in and of itself.

But the truth is, I have time to scroll. 

I have time to binge on Netflix.

I have time for mindless clicking when I’m laying in bed at night. In fact, I NEED that time to relax and unwind after 16 hours of running around. 

I found the tip of “Replace screen time with book time” when I was (yep!) scrolling on Pinterest, and thought I’d try it out. I’ve recently replaced my evening scrolls with evening reads, and I’m already on my fourteenth book of 2025! This is typically unheard of for me, unless I have COVID.

And some other truths?

1. I am getting better sleep, plain and simple

Scrolling on your phone right before bed can mess with your sleep. The blue light from screens suppresses melatonin, the hormone that tells your body it’s time to rest. A book, especially a physical one, doesn’t interrupt that process. It’s a gentler way to help your brain power down.

2. Books help me actually relax

Reading at night has become a signal to my body – “We’re winding down now.” It pulls me out of the go-go-go mode in a way that scrolling never does. Scrolling keeps me mentally on – whether I’m reading the (celebrity) news or watching a reel that leads to five more. Now I’m falling asleep quicker and staying asleep longer (and I have the drool stains to prove it!).

3. Less stimulation = more peace

When I read a book, I’m focused on one thing: the story. Phones are designed for constant input – notifications, ads, group chats, the algorithm trying to hook me again and again. It’s exhausting, and not the good kind that I want before sleep. I didn’t realize how overstimulated I was until I took a break from it.

4. It’s a workout for my brain (in the best way)

Books ask more from us – in a good way. They build our focus and stretch our imaginations. Instead of swiping through content, I’m visualizing characters, soaking in plot twists, and actually thinking in a deep, satisfying (and sometimes spicy!) way.

5. No pressure to keep up

Social media at night can stir up thoughts I don’t need when I’m trying to wind down – whether it’s a friend’s perfectly curated living room or someone’s latest fitness milestone. Even when I’m happy for them, it can be a mental to-do list I didn’t ask for. A book doesn’t ask me to keep up. It just invites me in.

6. It builds a calming nighttime ritual

Now that I’ve swapped my phone for a book, I look forward to bedtime in a new way. It’s a quiet, cozy ritual – Skincare, Supplements, SPICE! That rhythm helps my body recognize it’s time to slow down.

7. It’s good for my mental health

Honestly, I just feel better. Less anxious. More grounded. Reading calms my mind in a way that no amount of scrolling ever has. It’s a small shift that’s made a big impact.

I’m not saying I never scroll before bed, that would be a lie. But more nights than not, I reach for my book instead of my phone. And the results speak for themselves: deeper sleep, calmer evenings, and a mental reset.

If you’ve been feeling drained, overstimulated, or just plain tired, try the swap. A good book might be exactly what your bedtime routine is missing.

P.S. Want to know what I’m reading right now? The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer – so far, I’m hooked, and I smell another 5-star review coming soon…