Let's be honest, reading books is not most people's #1 activity to do in their free time. It's either Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc. Social media has taken over our brains and our lives. When we are sitting at a red light, those 30 seconds of boredom seem unbearable, so what do we do? Pull up Instagram and go through a few pictures. We have become so enveloped in this that we don't realize what we're doing to our brains and our well-being.

"Brain scans of social media addicts are similar to those of drug-dependent brains: There is a clear change in the regions of the brain that control emotions, attention and decision making." We have a dopamine stimulator in our pocket at all times and it's beginning to take control. There's plenty of research that backs up the claim that social media has caused many people to develop stress, depression, anxiety, etc. So, with uncontrolled amounts of time spent on these apps and more mental health issues arising, why don't we just scale back our use and find activities that feed the brain, not "fears" it?

Going back to how people educated themselves prior to technology, reading books is one of the best ways to unwind and recharge. Though the thought may sound boring and you're someone who hates to read, it's not that you hate to read, it's that you haven't found a book you love yet. I was that person and when I found a book that I really connected with, I began to read so much more and I'm better for it.

This summer, my goal is to read three books. I have a large stack of them that I have accumulated, but haven't taken the time because I've been distracted with social media and checking it every five minutes. However, when I read before going to bed, I'm a lot calmer and at peace, versus going on Instagram and spending an extra hour of my time uselessly scrolling only to be more awake by the end. So, I challenge you to find a book that you like or even just a genre and read. Take 30 minutes of your "social media" time and use it to read. Take note of how you feel and the difference in the two activities.