The past two years have been incredibly difficult on us. Dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic: the wildfires in Australia and the United States; the major protests in India, Poland, and the United States; the explosion in Beirut; the locust outbreak in east Africa; and much more has left us staggering without a chance to catch our breath..

With all the struggles from these events, self-care has never felt more important and what better way to take care of yourself than with a book? 

It calms us down

Unlike listening to music, or watching a show, reading needs our undivided attention. We have to be actively engaged in the story, which stops our minds from worrying and stressing over other demands. According to a study at the University of Sussex, reading for just six minutes decreased stress levels by 68% (Reading 'can help reduce stress' (telegraph.co.uk) ).

It helps us sleep better

Sleep is an important part of taking care of ourselves. Reading just 20 minutes before bed signals to our brain that we are slowing down our pace. It’s a better alternative than browsing through your cellphone, your TV or any other activities that might stimulate our brains too much, and decrease our quality of sleep.

It expands our imagination

Books push us to visualize and experience the world we’re immersed in. Our imaginations aren’t constrained by the boxes and rules of our reality. Magic, aliens, monsters, myths are all possible; and creativity has a chance to grow and thrive. 

The benefits extend to our reality as well. An increase in creativity can lead to innovative ideas in our careers or passions.

It can be done anywhere

Reading can be done anytime and anywhere we want. In high school, I loved reading during my lunch hour, in class, in the halls, and any chance I got. When I’m on my break at work, I’ll take time to recharge by reading something engaging.

Even without the physical copy of a book, we have the possibility of accessing stories on our phones, computers, laptops, tablets, Kindles, and Kobos. We can read while sitting, standing, or lying down. All you need is something to read.

Celine is a second-year Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. She loves to read, write, and daydream. Despite her wandering mind, she wants to grow as a writer, and make it her career.