Best Times To Read – According to Linh

By Linh N., Grade 10

My favorite part of summer is the seemingly endless time you have during the day. All activity ceases, the day lulls, and I find myself able to enjoy the simpler pleasures - it’s a much-needed break from the fast-paced work and school environment of the rest of the year. Summer also allows a lot of time for reading. I especially love reading at night; from 9 PM - 10 PM, everything is quiet, and I can feel the breeze from my open window, sit under the layers of my blankets, and slowly fall asleep. However, I love reading in the afternoon too; often, I sit on the couch, the sun on my face, with the comfort of a good book and food! Below, I have ranked my favorite times of the day to read and why - #3 may surprise you!

4. EARLY MORNING

Early morning is one of my favorite times to read because of the tranquility that comes with it. I love reading when no one else is around so  I can focus solely on the book and the world that the author is describing. At 6:30, the sun is just starting to rise, creating a beautiful setting, the birds are chirping and I am usually the only one up. I do not like reading later in the morning - that's my work time, and I save ‘distracting’ activities for the afternoon. Early morning reading feels like the "warm up" before the real day starts, and I like how it both wakes up my mind gradually and relaxes me.

However, I usually do not read at this time of the day. I only wake up at this hour occasionally during the school year and even less during the summer - whenever I wake up this early, I also feel a bit lethargic the rest of the day. Additionally, when I get up, I check my phone and scroll on social media for half an hour - which I know is definitely not good for me, and is a habit I am trying to break. Although I love reading early in the morning, and it’s a great way to incorporate reading into your day, it’s definitely not the most practical.

3. MIDNIGHT

Midnight is one of the most impractical times to read, and somehow I still do it fairly often. There are several reasons why I find myself wide awake at midnight, reading; this happens when I start an amazing book in the evening and cannot put it down, or if I am stressed about something, or if I just can't fall asleep. This really disrupts my sleep patterns, and every time, without fail, I wake up tired, grumpy, lazy, and inefficient - the list stretches on.

For some reason though, I feel oddly focused in the nighttime, especially at midnight! When nothing is there to distract me, and the room is dark except for my closet light, I feel more inclined to read, and I can imagine the setting of the story more clearly! The coziness of my bed is also unbeatable, which makes reading this late worth it. 

2. AFTERNOON

I usually do not let myself read during the day; I am a very checklist, task-oriented person, and luckily, I do not procrastinate much. Although not as much as social media, reading distracts me from all the major things I need to do during the day.

Reading in the afternoon is one of the exceptions. Usually, by 3 or 4 PM, I am done with most of my tasks and feeling tired from the day. The afternoon is the slowest part of my day, which makes it  the perfect time to sit on the couch or in my backyard winding down. One of my favorite snacks to pair with afternoon reading is avocado toast. I toast bread to golden perfection, spread a thick layer of chunky green avocado, and sprinkle sea salt on top. Then I can laze around for an hour and read a few pages of my current book! 

1. NIGHT TIME

I ranked night time, or evening reading as first! There are so many benefits, and so few disadvantages. It has become a consistent night time routine for me, and I cannot fall asleep without it.

I have a really hard time falling asleep - most nights, I sit awake for hours bored to death! When I read a book before bed, it helps me fall asleep gradually without experiencing excruciating boredom. I read until my eyes get heavy and the words blur - then I shut off my light and drift off to sleep naturally. Sometimes, I get a bit carried away and read for hours without putting the book down - which is one of the disadvantages.

Reading at night is also a much better alternative than doom scrolling. I used to keep my electronics in my room at night, but that would lead to me staying on my phone for hours! The bright light of the screen kept me up rather than helping me wind down, and I found that social media added to my anxiety.

Finally, I love the feeling of night time reading. When I’m freshly showered and am done getting ready for bed, the first thing I want to do is jump into the warmth of my covers! I love feeling cozy as I am reading, and I love the relaxation it brings me! Usually, I can read without interruption or noise, and I usually open a window so the breeze can flow into my room. The day can be very stressful, and reading offers me an escape! I don’t have to think about the upcoming test, the important soccer game, or any other tasks, only the words on the pages.

Reading can be enjoyed at any hour of the day, and offers a variety of benefits. You can choose to start your morning off positively, take a midday break, or even end your day in a calming way. No matter the time, picking up a book can provide a moment of peace, adventure, or learning, making every hour a great time for reading.