This will come as a surprise to absolutely no one who knows me, but I love reading. It’s my favorite way to escape whatever real-world thing is currently stressing me out. I read before bed, when I wake up, and on my lunch break. You get the idea. So when I fell into a three-year-long reading slump, I missed it immediately. I’d pick up a book from my shelves, read a few chapters, and put it back, bored and disappointed. Every so often, I’d actually finish a book but then felt no motivation to read another one. I’m proud to announce this reading slump is long behind me. For the past several years, I’ve completed my reading goal with several months to spare. How? I owe it all to one thing: my Kindle.

Amazon

I spent a lot of time comparing models and landed on the 16 GB Kindle Paperwhite. That 16 GB amounts to thousands of books, so I know I’ll never be without something to read. The adjustable screen and lighting options also mean reading has never been easier on my eyes.

Sale price: $124, including 3-month Kindle Unlimited Subscription After sale: $149

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How my Kindle helped me achieve my goals

I know, I know. The idea that an e-reader can help someone read more sounds ludicrous. But when I look back at the year so far, I’ve read 29 books, which is more than I’ve read during my reading slump combined. The only thing that changed between then and now is that I’ve now got my emotional-support Kindle by my side wherever I go. I’m so attached to this little thing that if anything ever happened to it, I would immediately have to replace it. Lost luggage? Purchase number one is a new Kindle. Left it at the coffee shop, and someone else claimed it? New Kindle. My house burned down? You guessed it: new Kindle. Still skeptical? I’ve narrowed it down to three key ways the Kindle has resuscitated the former reader in me:

1. It makes reading easier

There’s no getting around it: Reading on a Kindle is easier than reading physical books. Because I’m downloading e-books rather than purchasing or renting hard copies, I’ve got my entire TBR list at my fingertips whenever I have my Kindle. So, when I finish a book, I don’t have to go to the bookstore or library for my next pick. It’s right there waiting for me.

If having your entire reading list at your fingertips isn’t convenient enough, you can’t deny that having a single small, lightweight device is a million times easier than lugging around a book. I can toss my Kindle in my purse, backpack, or carry-on and barely even notice it’s there. Bonus: There’s no need to choose just one book to take on a trip with you. If you don’t like whatever it is you chose to read, you’ve got endless alternative options.

Probably the biggest selling point for a Kindle is the built-in technology that makes reading easy on your eyes. Because all of the settings are adjustable, I can make the screen brighter or the text bigger if needed. That moody bedside reading nook or bath? With my Kindle, I no longer have to sacrifice ambiance for safe reading light. As someone who loves nothing more than a candlelit evening bath with a book and a glass of wine, this was probably the biggest selling point. As a bonus, I no longer have to worry about getting my books wet. Reading with a Kindle is a game changer all around.

2. Kindle Unlimited gives me an endless library of books to choose from

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Kindle Unlimited has some really great deals. In fact, I’ve maxed out the amount of Kindle Unlimited books I’m allowed to rent at one time—on more than one occasion. The options are that good. Kindle Unlimited has introduced me to so many books I might not have looked at otherwise. And because there are always deals for this subscription, I get access to hundreds (maybe thousands, I haven’t counted) of books for literal pennies. I never have to worry about not having something to read now.

3. It tracks my books for me

I’m a numbers gal through and through. My Kindle links up automatically to my Goodreads account and tracks the books I’m reading without me having to give it a second thought. So, when I log into Goodreads to check my Reading Challenge progress, my Kindle has already done all the legwork for me by uploading what I’ve read and my ratings to my profile.

Tracking books isn’t the only way my Kindle provides me with crucial information. While I’m reading books, Kindle learns how fast I’m reading and can tell me how long it will take me to finish a chapter or even the entire book. As a kid, I was the self-appointed queen of “just five more minutes.” And this is really the adult equivalent. When I’m lying in bed and fighting sleep off to get in just a few more pages, my Kindle is right there with me, telling me just how much farther I have to go. I really can’t stress this enough: I would be absolutely lost without my Kindle.

Shop my Kindle and Kindle accessories

Amazon

I spent a lot of time comparing models and landed on the 16 GB Kindle Paperwhite. That 16 GB amounts to thousands of books, so I know I’ll never be without something to read. The adjustable screen and lighting options also mean reading has never been easier on my eyes.

Sale price: $124, including 3-month Kindle Unlimited Subscription After sale: $149

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Amazon

Kindle girlies know, clear cases are the move. Not only can you show off your Kindle’s pretty color, but you can add stickers to the back without actually sticking them to your device, allowing for endless personalization options.

Sale price: $8 After sale: $20

Amazon

A popsocket and Kindle are a match made in heaven. Kindle e-readers are already super convenient, but the addition of a popsocket makes it downright unputdownable.

Amazon

The faux suede finish of this Kindle sleeve is, in my humble opinion, extremely chic. Of course, it also keeps your device safe while you’re out and about.

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Sale price: $13 After sale: $23

Amazon

For the girlies who love to read in bed, this Kindle stand is the perfect way to upgrade your setup. Paired with a bluetooth remote, it allows you to read handsfree for ultimate coziness.

Sale price: $25 After sale: $30

Amazon

Paired with a Kindle stand, this bluetooth remote allows you to read completely handsfree. It’s perfect for reading in bed or in your favorite reading chair underneath a warm blanket.

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Sale price: $24 After sale: $33

If my morning routine was perfectly laid out like a Pinterest board, it’d look a little something like this: rise with the sun, hit the gym, indulge in an everything shower, get dressed in an outfit I picked out the night before, and enjoy a healthy breakfast with green juice before tackling my to-do list. A girl can dream, right? For a large majority of my life, though, life looked a little bit more like this: get jolted awake by the jarring sound of my phone’s alarm, hit snooze at least four times, roll out of bed at the last possible second, and caffeinate immediately.

Even though I’d have every intention of getting up early the next morning, actually following through with it was a challenge (I blame Netflix…and TikTok). I always felt exhausted, and the thought of starting my busy day only made me want to curl up under the covers even more. But then I heard about Hatch Restore 2, and I was intrigued by how it can help you learn to be a better sleeper. I figured if I could get better sleep, then I might be able to get up earlier and actually have a shot at achieving some of those dream-scenario morning routine goals.

Once I got my hands on Hatch Restore 2, I quickly realized it was exactly what I never knew I was missing. Not only did it help me establish a bedtime routine that didn’t include nodding off while doom-scrolling or binge-watching, but I also found myself waking up more refreshed, and dare I say, feeling ready to get my day started. While I’m not quite living out the Pinterest mornings of my dreams on the daily (and really, who is?), I can say with confidence that I feel like I’ve transformed myself into more of a morning person these days. Below I’m sharing how Hatch Restore 2 helped me do it—and why you should consider buying one while it’s on sale for Prime Day.

Hatch

This bedtime sleep guide is about to be your new wellness-routine BFF. Designed to help you build a more restful routine, Hatch Restore 2 offers soothing sleep sounds, dreamy light colors, and a gentle sunrise feature that helps you sleep deeply and rise rested. And if that wasn’t enough to make you swoon, the gorgeous, minimal design that doubles as decor will.

Sale price: $144 After sale: $169

1. It romanticized my bedtime routine

While I had previously used a basic sound machine, Hatch Restore 2 takes it to a whole new level with sounds, music, dreamscapes, sleep stories, and guided mindfulness practices. There’s even an ASMR option for the whispering-lovers among us. Seriously, whatever your vibe is, you’ll find it in the library, which you can access by downloading the Hatch Sleep app.

Personally, I am obsessed with the Arthurian sorceress who tells sleep stories about the most beautiful and unusual gardens. I mean, with enchanting titles like Dragon’s Gold and The Garden of White Flowers, how can a mythology fanatic like myself resist? Plus, her tales are super intriguing to listen to while cozied up in bed. And I have to admit, it’s a much more relaxing way to spend the evening than crashing out on the couch while watching re-runs of New Girl.

Listening to her sleep stories has created a nice transition for me at bedtime, still offering a form of entertainment while also allowing me to get into a more relaxed state before falling asleep. By setting up a nighttime routine that I look forward to, it has allowed me to become more consistent and intentional with my sleep habits. I’m falling asleep much earlier these days and clocking in a solid 7-8 hours of sleep to boot. This has made all the difference for me being able to wake up in the morning finally feeling rested.

2. It’s made rude awakenings a thing of the past

In addition to the soothing sounds and stories, Hatch Restore 2 also offers a variety of lights that allow you to create a dreamy vibe in your boudoir. Some of the colors are even specifically designed to cue your body that it’s time to sleep. The purple light happens to be my jam since it reminds me of those last traces of light before the sun finally vanishes from the horizon. And the dark blue light gives off a very starry night sky kind of feeling. I never knew how much the color of light affected me, but these two hues in particular immediately put me at ease at bedtime.

As much as I love the nighttime lights, one of the coolest lighting features, in my opinion, is the sunrise light for the morning, which gradually gets brighter until it’s time to wake up. By mimicking the sunrise, it supports your body’s natural circadian rhythm, gently signaling that it’s time to rise. It’s SUCH a pleasant way to wake up in the morning compared to the offensively loud phone alarm that used to jar me into consciousness. And as a former California girlie, I’m completely obsessed with the glowy orange hues of the “Malibu Sunrise” that I have set for my morning routine. It definitely wakes me up but in a super chill way that actually makes me want to get out of bed.

3. It’s made screen-free mornings an actual possibility

I used to keep my phone on my nightstand since I relied on it to wake me up in the morning, but since it was within easy arm’s reach, more often than not I would find myself reaching for it when I couldn’t sleep…and staying up way past a decent hour. Similarly, it was also easy to grab first thing in the morning for a quick scroll on social media, which we all know is never an ideal way to start the day.

I really appreciate how Hatch Restore 2 offers all the same functions as my phone without any of the unhealthy distractions. I now charge my phone in another room at night, so I can go to bed without feeling overstimulated by technology. And on that same token, I now wake up without immediately reaching for my phone, which leaves me feeling a lot more refreshed and ready for whatever the morning, and the rest of the day, has in store for me—and yes, some days, that even includes an everything shower and a green juice.

If you are thinking of giving Hatch Restore 2 a try for yourself, it is on sale for Amazon Prime Days, so now is the perfect time to do it. You and your restful sleep habits can thank me later.

Hatch

This bedtime sleep guide is about to be your new wellness-routine BFF. Designed to help you build a more restful routine, Hatch Restore 2 offers soothing sleep sounds, dreamy light colors, and a gentle sunrise feature that helps you sleep deeply and rise rested. And if that wasn’t enough to make you swoon, the gorgeous, minimal design that doubles as decor will.

Sale price: $144 After sale: $169

MEET THE AUTHOR

Trisha Sprouse, Former Branded Content Editor

As the former Branded Content Editor, Trisha oversaw the creation of editorial, social, and email content for all sponsored campaigns. She loves getting to apply her creative lens at work, writing and producing content that helps brands tell their stories and helps our readers discover products they will genuinely love.