WHY READING MAKES US SLEEP

There are a hundred and seventeen books on your To Read list, you're about to buy three more you saw on your IG timeline because their synopsis can't let you stop wishing. But the part of you that tells you the most truth is whispering to you the earliest you could read any part of these new books is in the year 2088 when your reading glasses need reading glasses too. So you're like the rest of us bookworms, big deal.

You will survive, we always do.

Well, we know for the most part, the reason we don't ever seem to ever deplete our To Read pile is because just as soon as we start reading, our brains start threatening to shut down the body. Sleep comes. And who is that human that can disagree with the brain on such demands? Yet to be born, perhaps.

What I can help you with however are some answers. Answers to why we are most likely to fall asleep whenever we start reading.

For starters, reading requires that our eyes -the very same organ that must be shut to make sleeping make sense- is in constant movement across the edges of the screens or papers of the book as we devour that story. This means them eyes will tire sooner than later and when they do, it will be them sending SOS to the brain demanding to call it a day.

The brain itself would probably be too eager to offer the shut down request from the eyes because reading, following the plot and understanding demands an appreciable level of brain exercise. Activities up there are heightened, so while the bust of alertness at the start might make you start thinking you're going 200 pages nonstop, don't be too disappointed to find yourself dozing off after the third page.

I don't know of too many people who don't first of all copy a nice cool spot for themselves before they start reading. It could be on their beds with pillows in their ideal spots or on that soft sofa. Even if it's under the staircase, the point is, you read in that spot your body has judged to be nice and this is an important ingredient for sleep. Add this to the possibility of the book not holding your attention well enough, either because the main character is fond of using the same words your ex used to break up with you nine weeks ago. So your thoughts wander away for a moment or two. Next thing you know is, that wandering lands you in deep sleep.

Another good reason for most of us is, we usually decide to finally read after a long day of all the hard work and uninteresting home chores. You're back from work, you've eaten a quick meal you put together, did all the dishes, iron your cloths for tomorrow, put the kids to bed if you have any, helped hubby with that little urge, even done a quick mental shopping for groceries that would run out by weekend. Then we set to retire with the book, I prophesy to you, brothers and sisters, you shall sleep off in the middle of the third sentence.

What about the often likely chance that the book is a damn good one. Reading a good story signals the neurological wiring of the brain that all is well and peaceful which makes it let down it's guards of alertness and tells the body to chill out for Pete's sake. Sleep comes.

Then there's this cute thing the whole reading business do for you. It takes away your attention from any possible trouble or stress points that would otherwise have robbed you of sleep, like that stupid break up line nine weeks ago.

Bottom line is, reading is such a magical thing, those who don't do it often are strange. Do you have other reasons out think people fall asleep while reading? Mention in the comments.