Struggling to Sleep? Try These 4 Bedtime Stories for Adults

Published: Dec 17, 2020
Updated: Sep 27, 2024
Struggling to Sleep? Try These 4 Bedtime Stories for Adults
In this article
    Reading time
    6 min

    In the current, many adults fall into insomnia due to stress and anxiety. Sleep is very important for human health. And bedtime stories for adults are one of the most useful methods for relieving stress and anxiety currently.

    Some quiet and refreshing sleep stories are hypnotic because they fit the mood of sleeping. In this article, we will recommend some bedtime stories for adults that can help adults to fall asleep.

    Can Sleep Stories Help You Sleep Better?

    Bedtime stories can help adults who have trouble drifting to sleep, to fall asleep better. One reason is nostalgia. When we were children, some of us may have had our parents reading an old bedtime story to them. Classic tales like Snow White and the 7 Dwarves, Cinderella, The Little Red Riding Hood, and more.

    Being able to relieve your childhood memories from these stories often brings about a sense of comfort.

    At the same time, it also works as a method to help you zone out after a stressful day. It helps to distract the mind from self-sabotaging thoughts and worries, allowing the brain and body to calm down for sleep. Its effects are more so than sleep sounds or background noises [1].

    You may also like: 20+ Bedtime Stories for Adults to Fall Asleep – Free Audios

    Free Bedtime Stories For Adults Online

    Here we have 5 classic bedtime stories for you to listen to and relax your mind. You can also find similar bedtime stories on our ShutEye® app for both adults and kids.

    So if you are ready to to get a good night’s rest, scroll down this list and let the stories transport you into the dream realm!

    ShutEye@3x
    Sleep better with our sleep sounds, stories, and guided meditations


    Get ShutEye For Free

    4 Bedtime Stories, Great for Adults

    1. Alice in Wonderland

    Alice in Wonderland bedtime story

    Alice in Wonderland is inarguably, one of the most famous children’s literature. The author is Lewis Carroll, a 19th-century British writer and mathematics teacher at Christ College, Oxford University.

    Alice in Wonderland tells the tale of a young girl named Alice, who fell asleep and dreams about accidentally falling into the rabbit hole. All of these was to chase a talking white rabbit with a pocket watch. As she goes through this bizarre adventure, she comes across many strange and often illogical creatures.

    As Alice comes to a realization that these creatures are only imaginations based on a pack of playing cards, she awakens from the dream.

    Listen to the full bedtime story here:

    2. Cinderella

    cinderella bedtime story

    Cinderella is yet another classic fairytale about a girl who turns into a princess.

    The story follows a young and beautiful girl who was forced to live with her mean stepmother and two stepsisters, ever since her father passed away.

    Despising her very existence, Cinderella was made to do all the house chores and lived in poor conditions.

    One day, the prince in the city held a ball and invited girls from all over the city to attend. But the stepmother and two sisters refused to let Cinderella attend.

    At this time, a fairy appeared, helping her to transform into a noble lady— changing a set of beautiful clothes and a pair of crystal shoes for Cinderella to put on.

    The fairy reminded her that after twelve o’clock the magic would release automatically. Cinderella attended the ball, and the prince fascinated by her as soon as she saw her.

    However, the happy time passed quickly, and Cinderella had to leave immediately, leaving a glass slipper in the panic. As the prince retrieves her glass slipper, he seeks to visit every house in order to find her. Just as he was about to give up, he managed to find Cinderella in her house, who the shoe fits. He married her and they lived happily ever after.

    Listen to the full bedtime story here:

    3. Aladdin and the magic lamp

    Aladdin and the magic lamp bedtime story

    Aladdin and The Magic Lamp tells the story of Aladdin who is an impoverished young ne’er-do-well. Recruited by a sorcerer who passes himself off as the brother of Aladdin’s late father. He convinces Aladdin to work with him, claiming that he would enjoy riches if he did so.

    The sorcerer’s real motive was to persuade young Aladdin to retrieve a wonderful oil lamp from a cave. After the sorcerer attempts to double-cross him, Aladdin finds himself trapped in the cave. Still wearing the magic ring that the sorcerer gave, he rubbed his hands in despair.

    That is when a genie appears and grants his wish to be released from the cave. This allowed him to return to his mother while in possession of the lamp.

    When his mother tries to clean the lamp, a second far more powerful genie appears who is bound to do the bidding of the person holding the lamp. With the aid of the genie of the lamp, Aladdin becomes rich and powerful and marries Princess Badroulbadour.

    Listen to the full bedtime story audio here:

    4. Snow White 

    snow white bedtime story

    The story of Snow White follows a princess called Snow White who lives in the castle with her evil stepmother. Her stepmother, the Evil Queen, always desired to be the fairest of them all. When she consulted her magic mirror and realized that Snow White was seen as the fairest in the land, it sent her into a fury.

    The Queen enlists a woodsman to kill Snow White, he could not bear to do it. Instead, he makes her escape into a forest where she meets seven dwarves. Once the queen had learned about her whereabouts, she disguised herself as an old hag and tricks her into eating a poisoned red apple.

    As the dwarves mourn Snow White’s death, the handsome prince comes along and saves her with a kiss.

    Listen to the full bedtime story audio here:

    See also: How to Fall Asleep Fast: 9 Simple Tips To Try

    Conclusion

    So there you have it, 5 well-known fairy tales that can help adults like yourself to sleep better. For more bedtime stories, you may also try listening to a podcast with each episode dedicated to a different story.

    Alternatively, you may also find more bedtime stories on ShutEye®, an all-in-one sleep app. Come and join us now!

    ShutEye@3x
    Explore sleep stories from ShutEye and start relaxing now
    Try for Free
    About authors
    Jessica Brown, a 29-year-old freelance copywriter passionate about human nature and deeply committed to promoting sleep and mental health awareness. Jessica holds a Master of Arts in Literary Studies from the National University of Singapore and a Bachelor's in Biology from the University of Cambridge.
    Siti Amirah
    Reviewer
    Amirah is a content writer passionate about topics related to mental health and wellness. Recently, she delved into the realm of sleep health, spurred by a personal recognition of her subpar sleep habits and a desire for improvement. Amirah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Communication Studies from the University of Nottingham.

    The New York Times (2022) Once Upon a Time … Bedtime Stories Were Just for Kids [online]. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/01/style/bedtime-stories-for-adults.html

    You may also like
    20+ Bedtime Stories for Adults to Fall Asleep – Free Audios
    bedtime stories for adults to fall asleep to
    Updated Sep 16, 2024
    17 min