Adults Love Bedtime Stories Too

Adults love bedtime stories? Really??

Did you feel skeptical when you read that? Would you get funny looks if you declared it to your family, friends, co-workers?

We all know that kids love bedtime stories. That’s a given. But as adults, we like to think of ourselves as mature, and sophisticated. Beyond anything so childish as a bedtime story. We are well-adjusted people who get into bed, turn the light out immediately, and simply fall asleep. Right?

Hmmm…. I’ll admit it. That doesn’t always happen for me.

Calming Your Nighttime Mind

When I get in bed and turn off the light, that’s when my mind takes off. If anything is bothering me, it will start spinning around my brain just when I want to drift off. What I’ve figured out over the years is when that happens, I need a distraction. Something that entertains me enough to get my mind off the cares of the day, but not so exciting or stimulating it keeps me from falling asleep.

Enter, the bedtime story. Hear me out.

I’m not talking about having someone open a book and start reading to you like when you were a kid. Your spouse or partner doesn’t need to tuck you in and read you a night-night story. You don’t need to FaceTime with your retired parents in Florida every night so they can lull you to sleep with Goodnight Moon like they did all those years ago.

But we’re not all that different from children in our love of stories. Of course, we love being entertained by a good yarn. But it’s not that simple. Our innate response to stories is something we can’t deny.

Our Brains Crave Stories

Writers know it. Politicians know it. Hollywood knows it. Advertisers and marketers know it too. We respond to stories. If you want to get someone’s attention and persuade them to see things your way, tell them in the form of a story.

According to Lisa Cron (Story Coach, TEDx talk alum, and author of the books Wired for Story and Story or Die):

“Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience reveal that our brain is hardwired to respond to story; the pleasure we derive from a tale well told is nature’s way of seducing us into paying attention to it.”

So, with that in mind, let’s entertain a broader definition of the term bedtime story when it comes to us grown-ups.

What’s Your Ideal Bedtime Story?

There’s no doubt, there’s something soothing, relaxing, and distracting about surrendering yourself to a story. The routine of reading before bed, stemming from being read to as a child, is a conditioned response. The cue is that it’s time to settle down, relax, and prepare for sleep.

But it doesn’t always have to be actual reading. Listening to an audiobook or watching a movie or TV show replicates the feeling of having someone read to you. Yes, we (along with sleep experts the world over) have warned about the sleep-repelling blue light of our screens. It’s true, you don’t want to be staring at your phone, tablet, or big-screen right before bed.

But if it works for you, try closing your eyes and just listening. This works especially well when you choose old TV shows or movies you’ve seen before. You know what’s going to happen and how it’s going to end. There’s nothing suspenseful keeping you awake. Just let your eyes close and listen to the dialog of an old familiar friend like Andy Griffith, Sanford and Son, or The Simpsons.

Podcasts are also a great choice. Try and make it something not too exciting so your brain can listen for a bit, but still let go when it’s ready to fall asleep. No true crime at bedtime! We know of some ingenious podcasters whose shows are purposely not-so-enthralling for that very purpose, like Nothing Much Happens and Bore You to Sleep.

One last little trick. Whatever you choose as your own bedtime story, be sure it’s something that doesn’t bug you.

What do I mean by that? Let’s face it, we all have our own little preferences and idiosyncrasies. If a particular voice irritates you in any way, don’t choose that one!

Make sure you don’t end up lying there thinking about how that voice sounds just like your boss, or your ex, or your much-despised middle school teacher. Or if you have an aversion to any little speech patterns like a high, nasal tone, or a gravelly voice, or like, someone who like, sounds just like, you know, a Valley Girl or whatever. I’m so sure.

Now you’re ready to go out and find your own perfect bedtime stories!