READING
How to Improve Your Life By Making Reading a Priority
Because 27% of American adults miss out on the benefits of reading
Reading Books was a Priority for Henry Bemis
One of my favourite episodes of The Twilight Zone is the one where an older gentleman named Henry Bemis who’s legally blind without his glasses, is madly in love with reading.
Well the story goes on…(SPOILER ALERT)
He wanted to read all the time and kept being prevented to do so by other people. His wife wouldn’t let him read at home and he got flack for reading on the job as a bank teller.
One day he was in the vault on lunch break and read an ominous headline in the newspaper about an H-bomb capable of destroying mankind. Right then there was a nuclear explosion. His glasses fell off and he groped to find them, put them back on, and went out to find that everything had been destroyed and everyone had been killed, except him.
When he realized this, he went a bit mad, stumbled on a loaded gun and decided to shoot himself. But right before he pulled the trigger, he looked out and saw the public library sign and dropped the gun. The books had survived and he was full of glee.
But he accidentally knocked his glasses off and they broke. He cried because he couldn’t see to read the books, now that he had all the time in the world and no one to stop or punish him for reading. Reading was a priority to Henry, something many people take for granted. If this wasn’t so, perhaps lives would improve from the positivity reading can bring.
Here are some ideas on how to make reading a priority to improve your own life.
The Case for Making Reading a Priority
Now, I’ll tell you why you should channel your inner Henry and make book reading a regular practice and a priority in your own life.
A Pew Research Center study found that more than one-quarter of U.S. adults (27%) reported not having read a book in whole or in part over a year’s time — not in print, audio, or electronic form.
If you’re part of this group, then I’d like you to know why you’re missing out on what’s good for you by including regular reading into your activities.
Reading can help you:
- Become more creative and open-minded
- Do what successful people do
- Increase empathy
- Build your vocabulary
- Strengthen your brain
- Reduce stress
- Lower blood pressure and heart rate
- Get better sleep
- Prevent cognitive decline
- Alleviate depression
- Lengthen your lifespan
So, reading can have many positive effects on your life and make you healthier both mentally and physically. Not to mention that a good read is so enjoyable if you allow yourself to relax and get into it.
How about this — challenge yourself to read one book a month. Read, stimulate your brain, and expand your mind. I do often and it’s been very rewarding.
Books Are Taken for Granted
Think about it for a while, and look around you.
Books are often everywhere. There are probably books in your home that you may not have paid much attention to. They could be in the closets, the attic, the basement, or just around the house. Maybe in the trunk of the car?
Why are the free public libraries not overflowing with more people seeking out books to read? Libraries are a perfect solution for someone who may not be able to afford to buy books. One awesome initiative that’s not taking books for granted is a program for incarcerated adults called Books Behind Bars.
I learned about it from watching Taylor Talks, a weekly live stream put on by singer/entertainer Fantasia and her husband, Kendall Taylor.
Check out the video on this, as they’re doing good work!
5 Ways to Read More
- Invest in an e-reader: This is one of the great inventions. Being able to read on demand is an awesome way to get more reading into your life! Although you may pay about $89 for a good electronic reader like a Kindle, you’ll be able to pull up thousands of new and old book titles for as little as 99 cents.
- Download your favourite reading app: Many reading apps are free like Rakuten, Apple Books, OverDrive, or NOOK. Or you could try a paid reading app for just $9.99 a month with a 30-day free trial like Scribd. You can choose to read instantly from thousands of titles in digital bookstores. You can also get fantastic book subscriptions for kids!
- Set reading goals: One of the ways I get finished with my books is to set personal reading goals, complete with alerts in my phone, to keep myself accountable. For instance, you could set a goal to read 1 chapter a day or maybe 3 chapters a week or 5 pages a day. Just whatever fits into your schedule will work.
- Gift yourself a subscription box: Monthly subscription boxes are a great idea if you’re trying to get more reading into your life. Awesome new titles are released weekly, and you’ll be sent works based on your preferences like steamy romance novels, books from Oprah’s favourites, sci-fi, horror, or whatever you choose. Here are 25 subscription suggestions from Oprah.
- Designate a special reading space: Reading should be a relaxing and rewarding experience that you look forward to. Go ahead and claim a space like this as your very own cosy reading nook, so that your brain associates reading with being comfortable and relaxed. You could even set the mood with a warm cup of cocoa or coffee, a glass of wine, or candles.
Making Books a Priority Can Improve Your Life
Reading is a winning activity that can only make you better.
Although, I know that binge-watching a must-see TV series can be very satisfying. I personally loved watching all the seasons of Scandal, Ozark, House, and Star Trek the Next Generation.
I know how addictive watching television can be, but I also know how it can be damaging if done in excess. Research shows that prolonged TV watching could manifest unhealthy changes in the brain, particularly in children.
So, why not substitute some of the TV viewing with reading?
The Takeaway
Plain and simple — reading is good for you!
Research shows it can improve your brain connectivity, give you a better vocabulary, enhance your ability to empathize with others, help you sleep, aid in reducing your stress, lower your blood pressure and heart rate, fight symptoms of depression, help prevent age-related cognitive decline, and help you live longer.
What’s not to make a priority?
Related story by Audrey Malone that may interest you
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