Hello, friends! We’re now a little deeper into December, and I hope you’re finding your rhythm with the winding down of a school semester, a pickup of holiday shopping and activities, and more (or, more concentrated) family time.

One of the healthy habits that keeps me afloat, no matter the season, is reading.

Reading helps slow down our minds and relax us. It also serves as a different idea of “down time” – it isn’t the same as sleeping, but it usually allows us to take a rest from life’s tasks to absorb new information, whether it’s a story, new facts, or a trade. By incorporating reading into our daily lives, we allow different parts of our brain to fire, and that helps bring us new life.

How can we get these benefits into our lives, you ask? Life is busy enough. Why add one more thing to it?

Here is how I think of it: it isn’t another thing to do. It’s another thing to feed me.

Reading is truly one of my favorite things to do. I’m a heady person – I love learning new things and absorbing more information – so my brain feels starved if I’m not giving it some sort of stimulation throughout the day. My needs may morph, perhaps wanting to escape in fiction or learn something new in nonfiction, but I need to feed myself.

At one point in history, sitting down and picking up a book was the main or only way to receive the benefits of books. The good news for you is, that isn’t the case anymore! If sitting down to read is difficult or boring to you, there are plenty of other ways to receive the good things books have to offer.

So, how can we go about feeding ourselves? Here are some ideas:

1 – Start with something that interests you. I enjoy reading, but even I won’t read if someone hands me a book I don’t think I’ll like. You like young adult fiction? Then pick up a story and get started! Want to learn to do something new? Find a book on trades or crafts, get some supplies, and start practicing. It hardly matters what the topic is.

2 – Schedule time to read. Like exercise and getting enough rest, these things don’t simply happen to us. We need to plan for them! If you put it on your list or in your planner, you’re more likely to remember it and prioritize it. Even ten minutes a day first thing in the morning, right before bed, or over lunch can help your brain get some activity.

3 – Don’t like to sit and read? Audiobooks may work for you. I’ve enjoyed audiobooks while taking walks, driving to and from work, and working out. None of these circumstances allow me to [safely] have a physical book in hand, but they all allow me to receive a story. We also receive information differently through auditory means instead of visual. Want to reread a favorite tale but can’t afford time on the couch? Try listening to it and see if you catch anything new about it this time!

4 – Don’t have money for new books? Learn about your library! If you have proof of residency in your town, then you may have a whole building of books at your disposal. Many libraries also have access to digital resources like eBooks and audiobooks, so you can access them from your devices for free using apps. This allows you to read or listen without making a trip to a library or keeping track of physical items. (Fun fact: many libraries offer used book sales, so if you have a few dollars to spare, you can stop there, or at a thrift store or local bookstore for resale. I’ve gotten dozens of books this way.)

5 – Struggle to remember what you read? Try taking notes of favorite quotes, writing summaries in your own words or drawing a scene, or joining a book club. These extra steps trigger more activity in our brains that can help our memories. A book club includes a bonus of building relationships and hearing other people’s perspectives of a book. You may get recommendations for more good reads, too.

6 – Tell your friends! Many consider reading a private activity. It can be, but it can also be communal. Tell your friends what you’re reading. Ask them what they’re reading. Share ideas and perspectives. You don’t need to join a formal book club (though if you find enough cool people, you could start one!) or blog or social media account to share that you’re reading, and what you’re reading.

There’s a short list to start you! Reading can be a comforting, empowering, and imaginative endeavor. You don’t need to read dozens of books in a year to be a reader, and you don’t have to like particular kinds of books to be smart or creative. The most important thing, like many other habits, is that you start and regularly decide to participate. The more you do, the more your mind and body will miss it when you don’t!

Do you enjoy reading? What habits have helped you work more reading into your life? If you want to see what I’m reading or begin keeping track of your own to-read lists, hop on to Goodreads. You can find me there!

Happy reading,

Rebekah