Life for all college students is constantly hectic. When taking personal time to relax after a long day, I feel guilty because I know I could be doing something productive. It seems as if my days and weeks are filled with endless obligations.
In the down time I do have, I tend to watch Netflix, scroll up and down my favorite social media channels, or surf the web. At night before falling asleep, if I'm not too drained, I will watch a TV episode or start a movie. As we millennials have all been recently told many times, using electronics before going to bed overstimulates your brain, which inevitably makes it harder for you to fall asleep.
What we should be doing in the limited free time we have, whether that be during the day or before bed, is reading. I have always loved to read for pleasure, because I think books are fascinating. The power and effect that words on a page have is mind blowing to me. The number of times I've sobbed while reading a book is honestly really embarrassing (I'm a very emotional person for those of you who don't know me). Getting your hands on anything you can read is beneficial. Whatever works for you; reading should be fun and convenient.
This past summer I made it a goal for myself to read at least ten books, to make up for my lack of independent reading throughout all of my freshman year. From Sylvia Plath to Khaled Hosseini, I ended up reading 25 books in 10 weeks, and although some may say this is nerdy and cliche, I felt much smarter after doing so. My vocabulary had expanded, I learned facts about different mental illnesses, wars, cultures, people and more. Acquiring knowledge is just one benefit of why we should read more, and here are four more benefits for why we need to make sure that we read.
1. Reading reduces stress.
From personal experience, I've discovered that sitting down and reading a good book calms me down. When you're reading, you're taken into a different world. There's nothing like getting captivated in a great story. Also, when you get into a great book, it's enjoyable and fun to just sit down for hours and read because you want to finish it. When I read, even just an article for five minutes while walking to class, I seem to forget about all that I have to do and it takes my mind off any stress I may be feeling in that moment.
2. It's good for your mind.
Just as exercising is essential for your physical health and fitness, reading is beneficial for your mental health and brain. The brain is a powerful muscle that needs to be challenged and used actively every day. If we're not stimulating our minds daily, our mental health will suffer. Even by just reading ten minutes every day, we're benefitting our mental health and wellness. Reading also enhances your creativity and imagination.
3. Can be a source of free entertainment.
As I said earlier, I'm fascinated with the effect of books. I think it's incredible that when you're reading, you basically have your own personal movie going on in your head. By utilizing local libraries, you're able to check out however many books you want for free! Stories are just as entertaining as watching a movie or TV if not more. Not only is it entertaining, but as I mentioned before, it is also mind stimulating. Therefore, when you have down time and are in a dilemma over what movie to watch on Netflix, pick up a book instead! Now the Internet also makes it easy for you to read as it offers e-books of all genres online; however, you will most likely have to pay for these.
4. It helps mediate your short attention span.
We live in a world where news travels instantaneously and technology gets more advanced every single day. If you went to an elementary school, you would probably see a disturbingly high number of fifth graders with iPhones. The current generation is accustomed to having accessible internet everywhere they go. Younger kids, as well as the millennial generation, because of the constant technology usage, presumably have short attention spans. I rarely go anywhere without my phone, which I hate, and when I do have it, I'm usually always checking for updates. Reading keeps you focused on one activity the entire time, and you will feel more concentrated and focused because of it.
Even as technology continuously improves and revamps, we need to remember how important it is for us to read. Even just reading a news article on your way to class is beneficial. Reading is a much better alternative to watching TV before bed, and I think everyone should aim to read once a day in whatever free time he or she has. In addition to the five benefits I named, there are many more. Especially in college, it's hard to take time out of your day to read, but we should all try. I am making a goal for myself to read at least ten minutes every night before bed, and even an article from an online newspaper will suffice.
If you made it through this entire article, congratulations! You've stimulated your mind for at least five minutes longer than you would have otherwise, and you are now aware of some of the wonderful, beneficial effects reading has on us. So pick up a book, download news sources on your phone, find a local library! You will thank yourself later.
