Ever since I was a child, I have been a huge reader. I’d always ask for books for my birthday present, and get so excited whenever my parents let me stop by Barnes & Noble. My parents always thought this obsessive love for reading was a bit weird, but they never discouraged me from reading all the time.
I get that some people never really picked up reading, and just see it as a chore or something that they have to do for an english class at school. But I think that reading doesn’t have to be this way. It can be fun, and super engaging. It’s all about finding the right book to start with.
Reading is an excellent way to stimulate the mind and really get you thinking. You know the brain fog that develops after you’ve spent too long scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, or when you’ve watched five episodes of a show back to back? Trust me, I’ve been there. Reading helps yank you out of that stupor and makes you feel more awake.
Reading can also be an escape, depending on what you read. I myself love a good fantasy book, because I get to take a deep dive into a different universe and into the minds of other characters who are so interesting. Fiction books can be a great way to jump into someone else’s story and maybe take a break from the real world.
If you prefer to learn more about the real world, try reading nonfiction books. Memoirs are one of my favorite types of books to read, because they tell a real story and are often very eye-opening. Although they can be a bit more of a struggle to get through for me personally, they really get you thinking about the world around you.
No matter what you like to do in your free time, you should always try to make time to read something that challenges you and changes you.