Minnie's Fiction Addiction

by Noemie Ninn

Let’s be honest, reading in bed sounds peaceful, romantic, and Instagram-worthy. You imagine yourself tucked under a blanket, soft light glowing, a cup of tea on the nightstand.

In reality? It’s a full-contact sport with hazards, endurance challenges, and the occasional injury.

Here’s why every dedicated bedtime reader deserves a medal.

🏋️‍♀️ The Arm Workout

You start strong, holding up your book or Kindle like a champ. Ten minutes in, your biceps are shaking. Twenty minutes? You’re doing one-handed swaps like a professional weightlifter, switching hands every page turn. Hardcover readers know this struggle well — paperbacks? Still no joke.

Pro tip: Rest the book on a pillow. But beware the page-flopping effect.

🧘‍♂️ The Flexibility Challenge

Ah, the positions. You twist, you shift, you roll, because no matter how you start, it’s never quite right. Lying on your back? Arms fall asleep. On your side? Book slides shut. Curled up with the light behind you? Neck cramp.

You’re basically a bedtime contortionist just trying to finish one more chapter.

😴 The Sleep Battle

Here’s where endurance kicks in. You tell yourself: Just one more chapter.
But that chapter becomes two… three… suddenly it’s 1 a.m. and your eyes are crossing.

Worst of all? You fall asleep mid-sentence. You wake up an hour later. The light is still on. The book is smushed into your face. You are drooling on page 247.

📱 The Gadget Injury Zone

Kindle, tablet, or phone readers know this pain: the face drop. You’re holding your device above your head, getting cozy, when…
SLAM. Right onto your nose.

It’s the risk we take for the sake of convenience.

🕵️‍♀️ The Partner Stealth Mission

If you share your bed, reading becomes a stealth operation.
– Turn pages quietly.
– Keep the light dim but not eye-straining.
– Control your emotional reactions: no gasps, sobs, or wild laughter.

Bonus level: trying to silently plug in your Kindle at 2 a.m. without knocking over a glass of water.

🏆 Final Score: Champions Only

Reading in bed isn’t just a gentle hobby, it’s a nightly athletic event. It tests your strength, stamina, balance, and self-control.

So, next time you find yourself mid-chapter at midnight, balance your book on your face. As your arm goes numb, remember you’re not alone. We’re all out here, running our little bedtime marathons, competing against sleep, sore muscles, and the occasional dropped phone.

And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

💬 Do you have a funny or relatable bedtime reading struggle? Drop it in the comments…I want to hear your best (or worst!) reading-in-bed moments!