Reading!
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Reading is when you pick up any form of media with words, and you read it. In fact, you are doing it right now. Reading has incredibly positive effects on your body. It can even help improve your mental health and wellness. To do this, you have to read in the right way. For example, reading comments on social media, your friends poorly spelt texts, or the subtitles of your movie are all technically reading. These forms of reading are not going to be the ones to benefit your mental health although. Reading a physical or digital book, or article, or poem will help your mental health. These kinds of reading trigger parts of your brain that benefit your wellness. When we use reading as a way to improve your health, it's called bibliotherapy. What is it?
What does science say about it? Reducing stress by lowering your heart rate Lowers blood pressure Improves sleep quality May be linked to longevity Improves memory and concentration Enhances your knowledge and vocabulary.As Dr. Seuss once wrote, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Increases creativity Teaches empathy. NAMI calfornia reports a study that “drew a strong connection between reading fiction and better performance on widely used empathy and social acumen tests” It may preventALhiemers disease.Astudy on Reading has plenty of benefits for your mental and physical health. These include: pnas.org conculded people who spend time reading, chess, or puzzles may be 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who spend their time on less brain stimulating activities.
So, how do you read in a way that helps your overall wellness? The number one tip is, don’t make it a big deal or stressful. That is not going to help. Don’t think that if you don’t read or heavily analyze a book, it’s the end of the world. It’s not. Make it natural. Find a time, whether at your lunch break, while commuting, in the evening, or any other time, that works for you. Number two, start small. You don’t have to read a novel each day, or even a chapter. Start with 10 minutes, and see how it goes. Number three, if you feel like you don’t have time to read, that is okay, but odds are that you actually do. Trade scrolling on your phone or checking your email for a bit of light reading. But if you don’t have time for even that, excuse yourself. Its okay. Ideally, for the best wellness results, you read each day. But if you can’t, just try to resolve to read tommorow, or even try to start builing a reading habit in a few months when your life calms down. Number four, don’t feel like you need to finish a book. If How is it done? you’re reading a book, and it loses your intrest to a point you have to practically force yourself to read it, drop it. Find a new book. You can also read more then one book at a time. You don’t have to finish one book before starting another.
Now that you have found a way to incorperate reading into your life in a wellness-boosting non-stressful way, what books should you read? Can you read just any book to help your mental and physical health? Technically, the answer is yes, but some books help in certain ways. Fiction: If you are looking for something light, perhaps as a way to wind down after a long day, try a fictional book. Non-fiction: Try reading this in the day time, when you are alert and up to thinking hard and maybe taking notes. Audiobooks: If you are feeling pretty busy, or you find you love to multitask, audiobooks are a great option.And yes, in my opinion, they count as reading. Turn on an audiobook whenever you want to, while doing chores, working, driving, cooking, or working out. Physical books: audiobooks vs physical books is completly preference based. While there are studies on the positives of both sides, if you enjoy the feeling of the weight of the book in your hands and the turning of the pages, opt for a phsycial copy. What do you need to do it?
How often and long should it be done? Science has a lot of opinions for how long you should read. For example, one study by the University of Michigan found that indiviuals who spend just 30 minutes reading per day lived an average of two years longer than those who didn’t. So, maybe your reading goal can be thirty minutes. For younger kids University of Albany recommended 15-20 minutes in addition to reading at school. Whether you are reading a page a day, thrity minutes, or a few hours, the most important thing is that you read each day. The study by the University of Michigan previously mentioned only found indiviuals lived longer if they read every day. But what if thats haaaaaaaard. It is. But, there are ways you can help motivate yourself to read. Join a bookclub, or create one with friends and family. Studies have proven those who regualrily pariticpate in a book club are motivated to read 2 hours more per week. If you are competivitive, find some other competitive book lovers and make it a competition to see who can consistently read each day. If you love a good streak, create a book log so you can admire the long list of books you’ve read and read each day. If you are goal oriented, make it a goal and track your progress. Or, make it enjoyable. Read a book from a genre or author you really like, and cuddle up in a cozy blanket with your favorite snack. Try challanging yourself to read more or at a more difficult level, but then reward yourself.ALl of these can be great ways to make this daily reading habit easier.
The Calgary Public Library: Public libraries are great.And I mean great. Instead of taking a gamble and hoping you like this expensive hardcover book from Chapters, you can read any genre, any author, for free, with no worries. Drop in at your nearest public library and you can get a free library card. IndigoReads: If you are interested in a book club, try IndigoReads. Teens and adults can drop in each month at the Chapters in Chinook and attend clubs for a variety of genres. Just call the store to learn more. What are some resources in Calgary? How do CTS courses incorporate it? Creative Writing: Along with writing is reading. Becoming a better writer involves studying and reading books. Film and Media Studies: Emphasize the “media” in film and media studies. Or any CTS course really. Perhaps you read about photography styles in photography, or a intresting legal case in legal studies, or do some research on a muscle in sports medicine. This is all reading.
How does it help your full body wellness? The benefits of reading are plentiful. They don’t just affect the mind, but the body as well, also known as full body wellness. Reading reduces stress, which not only takes a toll on your brain but your body as well. It promotes better sleep, which helps you function better and feel better. It increases your vocabulary. It helps you read others emotions better and be more empathetic. Reading daily make even help you live longer! So, if you are looking for a wellness boosting, simple, free (remember, public library!), relaxing, benefical, daily habit to start, reading might just be your answer.
What does this mean to me? I’m a massive bookworm. Honestly, that is all I have to say. But over my years of reading, I have personally experienced the benefits of doing it constantly. Not only is it entertaining, but it helps me feel so much better. I have especially found I sleep much better after reading a page or two of a good book. It has also definitly improved my vocabulary and spelling (although not perfect) skills, as I was a decent writer from a young age.
Sources: https://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/benefits-of-reading-realbooks#citation-1 https://www.wired.com/2014/05/reading-on-screen-versus-paper/ https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.061002998 https://medium.com/thrive-global/how-reading-can-help-people-heal-c650586e7927 https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/physical-and-mental-health-benefitsof-reading-books https://namica.org/blog/why-reading-is-good-for-mental-health/ https://medium.com/thrive-global/the-wellness-benefits-of-reading-8-practical-tips-toget-you-started-33994be19e7f https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/read-your-way-to-wellness/ https://time.com/5388681/audiobooks-reading-books/ https://www.bustle.com/p/how-much-should-i-read-a-day-these-studies-have-someanswers-on-the-ideal-amount-of-time-70040