Reading for 6 to 10 minutes before bed is said to reduce stress levels by 68%, which is reportedly more effective than listening to music, drinking tea, or taking a walk.

noli's read

This precise figure of 68% comes from an often-cited study conducted by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex. This study is an interesting but limited observation: it is not based on large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but rather on measurements of heart rate and muscle tension following a reading activity in a small group of participants. While the link between reading and stress reduction is supported by science—as reading promotes cognitive relaxation and a slowing of the heart rate—the direct comparison to tea or walking should be approached with caution. The effect depends heavily on the type of content read and an individual's stress response. It is therefore more accurate to consider reading as an excellent tool for transitioning to sleep rather than a universal solution quantifiable by a fixed percentage.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.