Reading Fiction as a Sleep Alternative

I am definitely addicted to reading fiction.  I read lots of other types of information besides fiction, but I’ll take fiction any day of the week when I can get it.

When I’m stressed out or overworked, sometimes all read fiction as an alternative to sleep.  Now read in a fiction book for me is very similar to dreaming for whatever purposes.  I don’t get the complete bodily rest needed what I get when I’m asleep, but it’s very close.

When I’m in a good book, or even worse when I’m in a series of good books, I will read those books until they’re finished.  If I don’t have anything else to do I’ll stay a night and day to read those books.

Now I can’t stay awake forever reading books despite the fact that it does help me do you stress.  But there have been times in my life when I’ve actually taken a short power nap, a concept that reminded me to write this article up as I used to take power naps and I was in the military, so I could get some actual sleep and then wake back up and read some more.

Plus, don’t even get me started about Audiobooks.  I can lay in my bed in the dark listen to an audio book for hours on end.  It’s almost like audible dreaming.  If you’re so my audible bill, you think I might be living a financial nightmare!

Over the years I’ve read so many books, but I think my brain has become tuned to the ability to take in and absorb books as I read or listen to them in a state that is very similar to meditation.  When I’m listening to an audio book my eyes even get the rest that they need, and it’s just short of rapid eye movement.

Who knows maybe in another 10 or 20 years, books will default to the point where they truly can supplant sleep.  That may not be desirable for everyone, but it would be pretty close to bliss for me.  Give me a great book every night and a power nap and I’ll be ready to take on the world!