For the most part, none of us do enough to take care of ourselves mentally or emotionally. I think we put off self-care because we think it's too complicated or too time-consuming, or we just don't know how. Another thing we don't do enough of is reading! The world has become so technological and fast-paced. I feel like no one takes the time to read any more, and I think it's for some of the same reasons: we don't have time, and carrying a book or an e-reader around would be too complicated for most of our daily lives. What if I told you that both of these things are important, and both of them can be combined into one "task?" Even if you don't think you need to practice self-care, you really do. Even if you don't think you should read for pleasure, you really should. Reading is so important to self-care, relaxation, and staying in-tune with yourself. So, how is reading really the best thing you can do for yourself?
1. It allows you to have time to yourself without feeling lonely.
As an introvert, being alone rarely makes me feel lonely, but some people can't have time to themselves, time to recharge, without feeling empty or lonely. Even though I love having alone time, reading a book never lets me feel like I"m totally alone; the characters often seem so real, so genuine, that I have trouble feeling lonely. Books really do serve as friends, counselors, and teachers. So how does this help with self-care? Often we put off self-care time because we don't want to do it alone, or, living in a "shareable" world, we feel the need to always share every aspect of our lives with others. Immersing ourselves in a book allows us that connection with others, even if the "others" aren't real, and it helps us to surround ourselves with a community that allows us to heal and recharge ourselves without feeling so secluded.
2. It keeps our minds full and fed.
Our minds need nourishment just as much as our bodies, but we often cater to the latter much more than the former. Why? We take time out of each and every day to feed our bodies, so why can't we take the time to feed our minds? Reading provides a form of self-care that allows our minds to recharge, almost reset, if you will. For an avid reader such as myself, reading almost acts as what would be someone else's morning coffee. Reading makes me feel so refreshed, and it serves as a way for me to relax while also boosting my mood and energy, much like food affects our bodies.
3. It helps us learn about ourselves.
Not everything in a book is easy to relate to, but we often find ourselves wishing we could take part in the magic that's happening between the pages. What does that say about us? Sometimes we relate to a character, an event, or even the setting of a particular book, and that can help us to understand things about ourselves. Reading can help us feel more connected to our true selves, show us things we never knew about ourselves, and serve as a way to help us understand things about ourselves with which we may struggle.
4. It allows us to escape.
Anyone who has ever gotten lost in a book can attest to this. When life is just too much to handle, we often seek an escape. Much like self-care, escaping is necessary. No one should be expected to go through life without some way to cope with tough situations, and no one should be expected to go through life without making time for themselves. Reading really gives us a new world to climb into whenever we want, and that escape can help us feel grounded and safe again. It's so important to allow yourself that escape. Without it, life can get so overwhelming, and it's especially important to take care of your emotional and mental health.
5. It connects us to others and helps us form communities.
Reading brings people together. Even if we've never met, lovers of the same book all share a connection. Take the Harry Potter series, for example. "Potter Heads" all share a connection to one another. We've formed a community on Pottermore, we've grouped ourselves into Houses, and we've mourned the deaths of characters (and a few actors) together. Not only does reading connect us in this way, it can also bring us together in other ways. Some join reading groups and fan clubs to meet others with similar reading interests, and some people have bonded over a single book. Some may meet simply by seeing another person reading a favorite book. Reading creates a community that allows us to bond through a shared emotional experience; this is something that almost nothing else is capable of doing.
6. It teaches us that anything is possible.
As a child, I grew up reading fairy tales and books about the hero who always conquers evil. As a teen, I read stories of magic and adventures and stories about the hero being inside all of us. As an adult, I have found that everything I read until this point has been completely true. Maybe there isn't a hero who will swoop down from the sky and save us, and maybe there won't be a knight in shining armor or a Prince Charming for every girl or boy or a princess for every boy or girl, but good still exists. That means that evil still exists, too. Reading has taught me that there is a hero in all of us, and we can all defeat the evil in our lives if we try.
Always remember to turn on the light. Always remember to care for yourself. You're the only "you" that will ever exist. Take the time the to lose yourself between the pages of another world.
