The Not So Good Effects of Binge-Reading
3 Reasons why you should stop trying to finish a book in the least time possible
There is nothing more fulfilling than finding a book that gets you so intrigued, that you just cannot put it aside until you read the last word of the book. This joyous activity is called binge- reading.
According to the Urban dictionary ‘Binge-read - is the act of reading large amounts of text in a short amount of time’
Binge- reading the newest trend
With a lockdown in place, I started observing that many of my friends showed a desire to get back to reading. What was more interesting was they wanted to be able to finish reading as many books as they could.
My social media account was also getting flooded with stories of people completing a series of books in one week. And book club invites to 24x7 reader engagement programs. Hollywood celebrities Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams also launched an Instagram account ‘Save with Stories’ (a charity account where celebrities would read stories to raise money to help children’s charities).
Reading was being endorsed everywhere, and it was evident that binge-reading was the new trend.
Though binge-reading a novel or a series can be a really good experience and make you feel refreshed. It definitely isn’t a daily or weekly routine that you should indulge in.
In this article, I will be focusing on three major reasons why you shouldn’t binge-read.
Let reading be a stress buster and not a stress creator.
#1: You tend to forget the real world
Timeboxing is not just meant to be followed in your work life. It is important to set a schedule for reading and try not to overdo the allotted time.
It’s not wise to skip a meal to complete a book. Neither is it a good idea to read while having your meal.
It is also not wise to forget the ‘real’ people in our lives. We need them to help us feel happy and support us to make better choices.
Sacrificing self-development activities to complete a book might give you instant gratification. But that doesn’t mean it would make you a happy or healthy person.
#2: Binge-reading causes physical health problems
While trying to finish a book, we generally go from sitting on a chair to lying on a couch. Basically positioning our body in really awkward positions.
Sitting for an extended period can slow down your metabolism. It can also result in bad posture, causing back, neck, or shoulder pain.
Binge-reading can also cause poor quality of sleep and fatigue.
Reading for a prolonged period will strain your eyes and can cause unbearable headaches.
Binge-reading made me emotionally vulnerable.
I felt lonely and depressed once I had finished a book. I would keep thinking about the story over and over again until I started reading another book.
Binge-reading different genres one after the other made my brain crash. I felt overloaded with information.
I felt confused and it became difficult to communicate my ideas and feelings.
#3: You are spending more than you should
E-books, physical copies, library membership, or book club memberships all come at a cost.
And when you become a binge-reader you tend to make room for books in your monthly budget. Even if it means that you might toss a coin to decide to buy a hot meal or book.
A positive note
Reading is not a dangerous habit. On the other hand, it’s a habit that all of us should inculcate.
With all the amazing books out there, reading a few could transform you into an empathetic, calm, and nice person.