Pick up that book!
”There is no friend as loyal as a book” – Ernest Hemingway.
Reading…a great practice, no matter your age.
In the last century, before we relied on cellphones and social media to provide our entertainment and information, everyday reading was a practice that most everyone enjoyed. It was seen as the way to gain knowledge and its benefits were both practical and social.
When I was young, I loved to read! It was a beautiful way to escape. I remember drifting away from the practice when I was in nursing school. I rediscovered that love when I had small children and saw their imaginations sparked as we discussed what we read together daily. Then something switched, they grew older. Over the last 6 years I again found it increasingly difficult to enjoy reading. I made lots of excuses, some valid others not. We all do this, make excuses. During this time, I have noticed a pattern. When I am bored, I get preoccupied with something mindless: a tv series, social media, the internet. Now none of these things are wrong, but why not pick up a book for the enjoyment of it?
Several months ago, when I was sick and quarantined for 2 weeks, my daughter sent me a book. A 500+ page book that she encouraged me to read since I didn’t have my computer with me. My only companion was myself, my cellphone and the tv. Now I admit, the first few chapters were hard. Really hard. As I dug deep, I discovered something; it was a new desire to read for longer periods of time. After a few days, reading this book became not a chore, but a comfort. Like sitting down with a blanket and spending time with an old friend.
We encourage our children to read, remind them of how important it is in the development of their brain. This week I want to remind you how reading makes you smarter, and better versions of yourself and give you a few reasons why.
Some Quick Benefits of Reading
- Improved Brain Health
Reading daily is exercise for your brain. An amazing fact about our brain is that it can retain a great amount of information, and with every new memory, your brain creates new pathways or synapses. This helps strengthen your existing memories and stabilizes mood. Studies have shown benefits include the slowing down of mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Other mental exercises like playing chess or solving puzzles results in cognitive stimulation and are great for brain health.
- Good Habit for Stress Reduction and Tranquility
When you read a great story, stress can seem to slip away, and you begin to relax. Diverting your mind from everyday concerns will give you that mental space needed. Let the author take you away and your imagination soar.
- Expanding Knowledge and Vocabulary
Knowledge is something that unlike monetary possessions is seldom lost. Improving your vocabulary is always seen positively both in one’s professional and social life. It also boosts your self-confidence and improves your writing skills!
- Improved Ability to Focus and Concentrate
I believe one of worst things that technology has done is make us lazy. Since everything is easily obtained, it makes it more difficult to focus on solving issues or concentrate for extended periods of time.
Do you have trouble reading 20 minutes and comprehending what you read? A great technique is to start by reading just 5-10 minutes a day. After a few days double your time. Continue this practice every few days until you can read comfortably for an hour. If you can already read and retain/comprehend what you have read after 30 minutes, then use this as your starting point and double this time. I can speak from experience that this technique works!
Final Thoughts
There are numerous benefits that the practice of daily reading can offer. Like anything it is a habit and may appear boring and difficult in the beginning. Start by choosing a topic that interest you and set aside small segments of time to read. It is a low-cost form of entertainment, and great books are available from your local library to free e-books, book clubs and exchanges. Let’s make this summer the one where you expanded and exercised your mind!
Give Yourself Grace,
Lynn
P.S. Want to know the book that inspired this blog?
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah