Everyone reads every day. Whether it be a street sign or a text message, everyone is constantly immersed in reading. Instead of just mindlessly scrolling through your social media newsfeeds, there are a few other quick and simple fixes to add a little more substance to your daily feed.
1. News Outlets
Instead of only seeing the little blue Twitter bird pop-up on your phone, try downloading news apps and set to get push notifications from them. If breaking news occurs, you will get a notification with the chance to click on it and read the article or update about what is happening around the world. CNN and the Independent are two options in a plethora of many other news outlets. Staying up-to-date on current events also makes it easier for you to form your own opinions on issues (instead of simply just reading people's opinions splattered across the Internet).
2. Bring a book to the beach with you
It's finally summer and you're probably wondering why would I bring a book with me to the beach? The beach is said to have calming effects on people. Scientists are trying out all kinds of experiments with the beach and the beach atmosphere. Some researchers say that they are even trying to come up with a sort of beach therapy. Reading has similar attributes. Dr. David Lewis says if you are able to read for six minutes, you are able to reduce stress by 68 percent. So pair the relaxing atmosphere of the beach with a good book and you are set for a relaxing and theraputic day.
3. Poetry
If you don't want to commit your time or energy on a novel, commit a smaller amount of time and energy and add in a little more emotion and read a poem here and there. Reading non-fiction can be hard on the brain, reading the news could be hard on the brain and the heart, but reading a poem can make you think less and feel more. Not only can poetry be cathartic for the soul, but majority of poems are less than a page, which is what this short-attention span generation can handle. Poems also a work out for your vocabulary. Since poems are shorter, they need words to get the point across quickly and strongly with words that really rock your mind. Being able to pick up on new words is always a helpful skill to have.
4. The Odyssey!
This site has everything and anything. Want to read more about a current event? Or an opinion piece about what has happened in the world? Or want to find one of those articles to share about why having a sister is the best thing and you need to make it up to her so you need to tag her in it? Look no further. There are articles that are relatable that can make you feel less crazy and early-20ish and there are articles that prove that the millennials do have brains and can have a voice. Whatever you want—it's here! Just take a peek and read around a bit!
