The pleasures of reading
As every grade-school teacher knows, reading exercises our imagination and engages us into an intellectual dialogue.
But the benefits of reading aren’t just for kids. Researchers are beginning to explore the health benefits of reading. Some studies suggest that it has the potential to reduce anxiety, depression and stress.
What you read may not matter, since we obtain different benefits from different types of literature: poetry is like mental gymnastics for our brains, novels help us empathize and non-fiction helps enhance problem-solving skills.
Above all, reading can make us feel good, perhaps in part because we set aside “me time” to do it.
Rules for reading well
Follow these three essential rules for reading well:
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Read what you want to read. Information is too plentiful, and life too short, to read a book you don’t enjoy. If that novel or biography doesn’t grab you, it’s okay to toss the book aside and reach for another.
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Find a comfortable place to read. Optimal reading conditions demand a quiet and comfortable spot with good lighting.
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Tailor your reading to your mood. Do you eat the same food every day? Your reading preferences change from day to day and over time, just as your taste buds do.
How to become a bookworm
The idea of toting a good book to the beach on your summer vacation may seem like a beautiful dream. But if it’s an impossible one, try to incorporate some of these tips to find more time to get in touch with your inner bookworm:
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Set aside a half hour each day for reading.
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Make reading a family event.
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Substitute reading for one television program each night.
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If you work out with a stationary bike or treadmill, try reading while you are exercising.
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Find like-minded readers – join a book club, listen to Canada Reads on CBC, or find a friend who likes to read and compare notes.
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Read around a topic. If there’s an issue that concerns you or a subject that delights you, read all you can about it.
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Encourage friends and family to give you books as birthday gifts.
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Organize a book exchange party.
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Take a “reading vacation” – spend a weekend or vacation day with a really good book and no other chores or distractions to interrupt you.