5 Fun Activities to Do Before Bed That Aren’t Scrolling On Your Phone

Catching up with what your social media friends are doing before hitting the hay can be entertaining for a while. In time, however, not so much.

But, what else can you do before bed when you want to ditch your social media life for an activity that better preps you for a good night’s sleep? Well, we have plenty of ideas that will help you escape from the monotonous social media scrolling. 

So, put on your bamboo comfortable loungewear and decide which of these activities works best for you to pass some time before bed. 

1. Listen to A Podcast 

Podcasts’ popularity has skyrocketed over the past few years, especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has become an increasingly popular pastime around the world, with about 383.7 million people worldwide consuming this type of content. 

So, it’s official: podcasts are everywhere. Why don’t you also give it a try? 

The greatest advantage of listening to podcasts is that you can listen on the go. You don’t have to be really engaged with your device (like staring into a screen). Instead, you can lay in your bed comfortably and listen to a podcast episode on a topic you enjoy. 

Lay down in your bed, put your earphones on (or not if you find that uncomfortable), and find the podcast episode on a topic that you want to find out more about. The good news is that these days you can find podcasts about pretty much everything, from personal development to business, family, lifestyle, fashion, you name it. 

2. Watch A Movie 

With so many streaming app alternatives these days, it’s impossible not to find a movie or TV series that work perfectly for some chill time before sleep. Having a good laugh right before bed is an excellent idea if you think about it. You’ll boost your mood, wear yourself out, and prepare yourself for the best sleep of your life. 

There are plenty of engaging yet easy-to-watch movies that you can fall asleep to, especially if you have any kind of insomnia problems as your brain will be kept busy and have less time to worry about the NEED to fall asleep. 

Whether you’re a fan of Netflix, Amazon Watch, HBO, or another streaming platform, we’re 100% sure that you will find a movie or TV series to watch that will send you to sleep. And, don’t let yourself caught in the paradox of choice (as it often happens when you have so many watch opportunities on these streaming platforms), as this will rather keep you awake than help you fall asleep faster. Simply pick something that sounds interesting (it can even be something you’ve already watched before), get yourself comfortable in the bed, and allow yourself to immerse yourself with the plot. 

3. Read A Book 

There are a number of benefits to reading before sleep. Not only that it gives you a good break from screen time, but reading was also found to reduce stress by up to 68%, which obviously improves sleep quality. More precisely, reading a book keeps your mind distracted from daily stresses and worries that typically cause tension and prevent you from falling asleep. Reading also helps you relax your muscles and slows down breathing, allowing you to feel calmer and ready to fall asleep. 

If you are explicitly trying to relax and de-stress before going to sleep, pick a relaxing book. This can mean novels about topics you love, wellness and personal development books, or maybe even a book about a hobby that you want to learn more about. 

4. Listen to Music 

Listening to music is also a fun activity that is beneficial for getting quality sleep. Listening to music facilitates quickly falling asleep and improving your sleep quality. Don’t believe us? One study has found that those participants who have listened to music for 45 minutes before going to bed reported having better sleep quality right from the very first night. 

But why does such a simple activity like listening to music have such a powerful effect on improving your sleep? Well, it all comes down to how your brain interprets the sounds you’re hearing. As your brain hears all these sounds, a cascade of physical effects gets triggered in the body, including the regulation of the stress hormone called cortisol. In other words, listening to music decreases your cortisol levels, which allows you to release stress and feel at ease. At the same time, listening to music also triggers the release of dopamine hormone, which gives a good feeling in the body and addresses pain. 

We don’t even have to tell you how many music choices there are. You can listen to whatever genre or song you enjoy and feel like it helps get a good mood. However, when listening to music before sleep, you should choose slow music or classical music because it is more relaxing and can promote better sleep. For example, studies have found that classical or instrumental music has physical effects that promote sleep, like slowing the pulse and decreasing levels of stress. 

5. Play Games On Your Laptop or Smartphone 

A lot has been written about video games, and most of it is negative. Video games have been told to make people less social, more violent, and even more stressed. However, video games have been found to be great stress relievers, which can promote improved sleep. But of course it depends on the game, some calming games like Solitaire will destress you, but something like a first-person shooter might have the opposite effect. 

What games to play before bed? Casual games, cooperative games, games that build skills, and those with an explicit stress-management component are those that can help relieve stress. Instead, try to avoid games involving a huge time investment and allow casual involvement. This way, you’ll be sure that you don’t end up more stressed than before and even stay up all night to dedicate your time to the game.