Inspired by the huge phenomenom 13 Reasons Why has become, I have decided to write 13 reasons why we should all read more. After all, the hit TV series was created from a book itself.
Recently I have decided to start reading more. I think reading is such a wonderful way to learn new things, improve your vocabulary and awaken your inner self. I've always loved escaping to new worlds through a book, ever since I was young. Yes, it may not be particularly cool or exciting; but reading can bring so many positives that other activities lack. Here are the top 13 reasons I want to read more:
- Relaxation - The number one thing I need to do more in life is relax. I am constantly stressed for pretty much no reason ( which brings me on to number 2) and reading can be very relaxing when you have a light hearted book.
- Stops overthinking - Overthinking will be the downfall of me. When I read, I can escape this world and travel to another place. It gives me something to focus on.
- Increases empathy- I think one of the main reasons I developed such strong empathy skills as a child, was because I read. I would often read first person stories, and focusing on the story of a character and not so much on yourself can really broaden your outlook on other people. It teaches you that other people have problems, thoughts, feelings and tricky situations too.
- Escapism- a huge reason I used to love reading, is because you can often immerse yourself into different countries, realms, worlds and even universes. This is a great escape when your own life is maybe not in the best of places.
- Improves literacy skills- for me, reading helps improve my writing significantly. By reading a book you are interested in, you subconsciously pick things up such as how to spell certain words, grammar, how to structure sentences and how to write stories.
- Broadens the vocabulary- as with the above, you can really widen your vocabulary from seeing words you may not see or hear otherwise. If I don't know the definition of a word when I read it in a book, I'll either pause and look it up or I will try and figure it out myself from the context. In return, I tend to remember that word's definition and it is then part of my vocabulary.
- Distracts from social media- in the place of reading at night before I go to bed, like I did as a child... I now check my phone, watch youtube or spend hours scrolling through social media. Social media isn't always the most positive or productive trap to fall down and it tends to be quite addictive. Before I know it, I've often lost track of time and spent 3/4 hours on social media or the interent, doing useless things. Reading distracts from this and is far more positive.
- Improves imagination- imagination is undoubtedly improved through reading fantastic stories.
- Ahead of the game/Avoiding spoilers- often the most popular tv shows/movies have come from books. If you read , you will be ahead of the game when it comes to new great stories and wont need to worry about spoilers of the tv show as you'll already know the outcome. Which in someways defeats the point of this argument haha.
- Inspires- If not the most important thing on this list, inspiration is one of the best things you can get from reading. Whether you are inspired to do something from reading a book, inspired by a character, inspired to write your own fiction or just inspired to read more... inspiration is an often underrated quality.
- Finding a role model- similar to the above, books can provide great characters that can teach us important life lessons. Some of my all-time role models have come from characters in books. Characters like Hermione, Katniss, Tris Prior and many more have all come from books and inspired countless girls.
- Timeless- a good book will always be timeless- just look at the bible! Stories can live on generation after generation and you can look back on history when you read older books.
- The possibilities are endless- as with anything that uses imagination, the possibilites in fiction are completely endless. Anything can happen and that is extremely exciting.
So there you have it. I am excited to start reading again. I will probably start relatively lightly and start with something I know I will finish and enjoy. The first book I am going to read is called "The Doomspell" by Cliff Mcnish and it is a book I actually read when I was in primary school. I remember being extremely inspired by it and it has always stuck out in my mind as my favourite book which says a lot. I'll probably only read a couple of chapters a night but I want to at least read 3/4 times a week.
Neverland At Night.
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