Reading a book before bed may help sleep better than scrolling on your phone, which can cause cognitive fatigue and stress.
Reading on phone vs. book
Reading on a phone before bed may not help sleep as much as reading a physical book, according to psychiatrist Pierre-Alexis Geoffroy, who discussed the topic on the Grand bien vous fasse ! program on France Inter.Cognitive effort differs
Reading a book engages more brain areas than scrolling through social media. It activates memory and cognitive functions, requiring focus and working memory, while social media content does not stimulate the same neural networks.Motivation and rewards
Social media offers immediate rewards and a sense of excitement, whereas the benefits of reading are often delayed and less intense. However, reading a book can provide a calming effect and release dopamine, a feel-good chemical.Choosing the right book
To help overcome the temptation of social media before bed, it is important to choose a book that genuinely pleases the reader. Finding that pleasure again can make it easier to prefer reading over scrolling through Instagram or other platforms.
