What if I tell you that reading is a good form of relaxation; that it calms your nerves, and that is why you feel sleepy each time you pick a book to read? Sounds outrageous isn’t it? How dare I make such an assertion? But you’ll agree with me that adequate daily sleep is essential to nature while reading is a form of human intervention.

Reading is a classical method for structural learning. Learning results in development. Imagine if all man does is to attend to nature’s impulse – movement, respiration, nutrition, irritability, growth, excretion, reproduction- how much development would there be? Sparse! Reading enhances reasoning, stimulates creativity, promotes innovation, and produces development.

A world without reading is unimaginable. it’s an absurdity! We all know its importance, but frustration sets in as nature beckons each time we want to read. Sleep has proven to be a genetic nuisance to reading for generations. It is thus inevitable to tame the monster! Following are tips that have helped great people across the world, using them will surely help you control sleeping whenever reading is what you need/want to do.

Tips to Control Sleep While Reading

1. Commit to a Sound Purpose

Commitment to a sound purpose will keep you awake. Approaching reading with a good sense of responsibility will keep you going. Reasons for reading may include examination, research, personal development, knowledge acquisition, leisure, information gathering, awareness, and so on. Whatever it is, establishing the purpose is good but it’s more important to be committed to it.

2. Change Your Physical State

Your physical state or posture has influence on what you feel. For instance, you’ll lie down if you want to sleep so as to induce the feeling. So if you want to read, don’t assume a state of rest. The ideal posture for reading is to sit straight at the table. But then sleep beckons! What do you do? Assume a more active state, like getting on your feet and continue to read, at least for a while. And if that is not enough, then stroll-read for a while. By alternating between these states, you’ll surely curb sleeping and enhance your reading time.

What else? After reading for a long while, take a siesta break. Five minutes nap in-between long reading time does wonder. That break could also be some other activity you enjoy.

3. Associate with Readers

If you are like me who subscribe to the principle of life-long learning, reading is inevitable. Associating with people who read is a rich source of motivation. Such company is influential in making you feel challenged. And you know what? In the words of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, "challenges inspire determination, re-invigorate willpower and keep the mind alert".

4. Employ Alternative Technology

Has this happened to you before – when you picked a book to read, you started dozing but when you dropped the book and fiddled with your phone or gazed at TV, the sleep fled? I’m sure you’re familiar with it! So I suggest, read eBook, listened to audio book, or watch a video version of a lecture on your devices. One thing though, turn off your data to avoid distraction.

One fantastic technology is the Text-To-Speech (TTS) engine upon which apps such as Voice Aloud Reader are built, which is capable of reading different format text files to your listening pleasure. Search for Text-To-Speech on Google Play, if you don’t mind.

5. Use Some Help

When you’re between the devil and the deep blue sea, why not? Use some help! Chew gum. Take coffee. But then, avoid those with addictive contents.

Adequate sleep is ok but not more. If you sleep for 8hrs per day, by age 70, you would have slept for 23 years of your life. Amazing! So whatever you consider as adequate, get it but when it is time to task your brain or feed your soul through reading, never allow sleep to rob you of the gains of principled living. In fact, the more we invade our indulgences in other to manipulate our penchant for pleasure, the more benefit and development we bring about.

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