Even though English classes strongly encourage it, students don’t typically read books anymore. With the incorporation of phones and other electronic devices in their life, students choose their devices rather than a story or fable.
Students should take the time to read more in their offtime.
Comparing reading and scrolling social media, reading is proven to be more beneficial to the mind. According to the National Library of Medicine, reading activates two cognitive processes. Deep reading is described as a “slow, immersive process” that “the reader draws connections to other parts of the material, finds applications to the outside world, and asks questions about the content presented.” By comparing the world inside the book to the real world, this not only expands vocabulary, but overall reasoning and critical thinking in day to day life. When reading, the mind feels less stressed – resulting in better mental health. This side effect promotes a better sense of “empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence, which are cognitive processes that can lead to greater survival.” In short, reading makes one feel more connected to the world and expands mental expansion needed for deeper sophistication.
Aside from base statistics, reading can help reduce the stress one experiences every day. Reading is compared to entering a new world that opens the eyes to new wonders. Think of it as a distraction to the real world (but in a good way), absorbing all the new information and becoming curious about what happens next. Being caught up in that state of wonder makes the mind feel less stressed because one doesn’t think about what they are going through; they are thinking about what the characters are going through. Taking that brain break from personal problems may give someone the distraction they need to take a breath, feel more at ease and then look at it from a different perspective. Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them,” so let a book think differently for you.
The biggest issue students say they have when it comes to reading is the fact they consider it boring and/or too difficult, often thinking it’s not mandatory for later in life. Depending on what they read, those claims can be proven true, but that’s why literature is diverse: everyone has their own interest. What one student says about To Kill A Mockingbird, for example, will differ from another; if everyone read the same book, then there would be no difference in the way people think. By having a wide range of genres and vast stories, there will always be something for someone to read. The first step is to explore and dive deep into the world of literature.
Taking the time to read a little bit every day helps strengthen mental processes, betters mental health and promotes a deeper sophistication. There’s a book out there for everyone, all it takes is time and effort to enjoy a simpler reality.
