We all know that social media fries our attention spans. Open TikTok and you’ll see videos of a cute dog, a recipe for shakshuka, and a rant about the newest Love is Blind season— (link recent article) all within 60 seconds of scrolling. This impacts younger generations the most, as they’re being introduced to technology earlier and earlier. A study found that Gen Z has an attention span of just eight seconds, which is shorter than older generations.
It makes sense, then, that a lot of people are moving away from reading books. While BookTok has popularized certain genres, such as romance and mystery, reading is still a less common pastime.
However, reading regularly has many benefits. Here are some reasons to finally open the book on your shelf that you’ve been meaning to get to.
It’s good for your brain!
Studies have shown that active readers have slower cognitive decline in old age. Reading keeps your brain strong long-term, but will also serve you throughout your life. It boosts your vocabulary, which means: a) you’ll be better at crossword puzzles, and b) you can use pretentious words to impress your friends. Additionally, it can help your mental health, by improving sleep quality and reducing stress!
Empathy
Writing fiction, regardless of genre, is often a way for writers to process their own emotions— which will ultimately be transferred to the reader. Everyone has a character that they identify with, even if the character is completely different from them in many ways. This is because emotions that the story evokes are always the most memorable part. Being able to relate to fictional characters, care about what happens to them, and feeling their feelings will translate to your real-life social connections.
New perspectives and worldviews
Reading is the easiest way to learn about other human beings; every story has a different perspective. Expanding your reading list is a great way to dive into other people’s lives, including new cultures, worldviews, or personal outlooks. Stepping outside of your own reality and into someone else’s is another powerful way to develop a deeper understanding, especially toward people with differing life experience.
Discover new things about yourself
Similarly to learning about others, reading is an important pathway toward self discovery. It’s true! Humans are social creatures, and identity is shaped by those around us— even if they’re on the page. The certain things that resonate with us can say a lot about who we are. Our responses to different characters can reveal our own values and what is important to us.
Making reading a habitual part of your life is easier said than done. Here are some tips for integrating it into your everyday life!
Top three tips for making reading a habit
Be intentional about your time
To introduce reading as a regular practice, carve out a certain time during the day. This could be during your commute to work or school (as long as you’re not driving), or right before bed while you’re winding down. No matter what, it’s important that you’re consistent. Try to read every day— it could be for ten minutes, half an hour, or longer— and soon enough it will be a natural part of your routine.
Join a book club
Nothing better than some good old peer pressure to help you reach your reading goals! Book clubs give you a hard deadline and provide structure that can hold us accountable. Being able to talk to your friends (or even make new friends in the process) about what you’re reading can add another layer of engagement.
Read for pleasure
This may sound counterintuitive, but if you’re not enjoying what you’re reading after the first few chapters, it’s okay to put it down. Pick out something else more your style. It will be really hard to make reading a regular part of your life if you’re dreading picking up the book. There are books out there for everyone; keep trying until you find something more your style. Then, you won’t be able to put it down!
What's Your Reaction?
