Think about it: When is the last time you picked up a book to read for your enjoyment and not because it was assigned? Has it happened in the last year? Or even -- ever? For some reason people don’t like to just sit down and get lost in a good book. A lot of people think, “Oh, well it’s going to become a movie anyway,” or, “I just don’t have the time,” or there’s the ever popular response of, “That’s too much work.” What a lot of people don’t know is that there are benefits to reading for fun.
Reading helps you de-stress. While there are other ways of clearing your head, reading a story word by word takes a lot of concentration. Instead of just watching your favorite TV series interpret a character from a script, you get to develop each character in your mind through the description the author gives you. Watching a TV that’s halfway across the room allows for more distraction than the novel that is just a foot from your face. Focusing on the book and getting lost in its story allows you to feel like your on a vacation.
Reading, regularly, also helps with your vocabulary. Because you are exposed to so many different words, you will find yourself using some of them on a daily basis. Not only does this make you a well-spoken person, but it allows you to expand your mind in so many ways.
Reading allows you to travel back in time. It allows you to travel forward in time! It allows you to live someone else’s life -- to be the superhero, the murderer or even the detective. The crazy stories that you get to imagine subdue everything around you and allow you to relax and be exhilarated at the same time. Books allow you to choose what type of genre you want to indulge in. Want to read a story about an intergalactic space station, a super girly romance or one that has a really strong political stance? There’s a book for that. Instead of being sucked into one of the many shows that take place in a hospital, you can read a book that is narrowed to something that interests you.
And lastly, reading is free! Libraries are just one great source of stories to read. There are also ways to download free books onto your phone, tablet or computer. You can also join book clubs that allow you to just exchange books with people so you constantly have something new to read. With a hobby like reading, you will never go broke.
For some reason, people don’t find as much enjoyment in picking up a good book as they used to. Challenge yourself. If you have some spare time this summer, find a book and push yourself to finish it. Hopefully when you finish you find yourself looking for more books to read!
