Benefits of regular reading. Trying to get into the habit of reading books daily…

I've always been a reader since a v young DC! I find it clears my mind, reduces stress (and screen time!) and genuinely makes me happy. I can read a book for hours, but my attention by the tv can't be held more than 15 minutes - I always feel the need to be doing something, but with reading I can actually relax. It takes me to different places and times and is an absolute escape from day to day life, which I love. It's totally reduced my reliance on my phone in the evenings or weekends for quick entertainment, and I think it makes me a nicer person (as I'm more relaxed).

I love fantasy / sci-fi / classics so anything that is not current real life based, I tend to get 50/50 physical books and kindle books - I felt guilty about the kindle for ages, but I still pay for books, it's easy to transport and it's just quick to use. I tend to buy more of the classics in physical form. If I ever get into a non reading sticky time, I just go back to my favourite ever book and re read.

I read a lot and always have. In the past few years I have listened to a lot of audio books. I used to hate them because they are so slow compared to books and I would get distracted because I was bored. I've found that if I listen while doing something physical that needs a little brainpower, like cooking or sewing (I'm a quilter), then the speed of an audiobook is ok. I also have a huge library of Kindle books so I read every night before sleeping.

The downside to audiobooks is that as soon as the narrator starts up at least one of my family will have something they urgently need to tell me, and none of them wait they just start talking over the book. It pisses me right off, so I say "stop" and then slowly find my phone, go to the app, stop the book and reverse it 30 seconds and then sigh and say "start again from the beginning". It doesn't happen with regular books, and even if it does I can stop reading instantly and go back to where I was. Audiobooks are much more of a faff if you have to keep stopping and starting.

I've always been a reader. I read every night in bed for around an hour usually. If I'm really into a book I can also be found wandering the house with it in my hand. Like others have said I've never thought about reading bringing me benefits. It simply brings me joy.

It can be easy to slip into mindless phone scrolling or Netflix box sets but too much of that feels like eating too much junk food for me, if that makes sense, so I make a conscious effort to leave DH to the TV after watching something together for an hour or two and slip off with my book.

No, @hiredandsqueak I have very vivid dreams but not in text. Sounds frustrating to wake up before the end!

I’m the same. Always been an avid reader but my phone has wrecked my concentration span. I need to switch it off and put it in a drawer.

I'm a voracious reader and have been since childhood. It's one of my favourite interests. It's a wonderful opportunity to experience and live different lives. It's an escape and pure entertainment. The only limit is your imagination as you are pretty free to see characters, places etc as you please. I often find myself thinking about the characters in a book afterwards. I cannot imagine a world without books, nor a kindle etc, it has to be a physical book for me
Reading for me is a neccessity.

I've had books that have left a lasting impression on me for years. TV really is visual chewing gum forgotten quickly

I go through patches of reading loads then not reading at all and definitely in the reading patches I feel better, I breathe deeper when I read so it's relaxing, plus it is escapism!

I try to read every night before bed but sometimes end up watching crap on the iPad instead! I either read in the bath on a waterproof kindle or in bed with a real book. I bought a reading light as the lamp disturbed cosleeping DC.

When I find myself distracted I put some background noise on YouTube with headphones while I read. There's a cosy rain / thunderstorm one I like and it's 23 mins so I try to read for just that amount of I'm struggling to concentrate.

Reading is a lovely habit to get into!

Can I ask the other avid readers on here have you ever had a dream where it's not actual pictures but it's text? I have this dream about once every month or so and always wake up before I get to the ending. I've asked in my family but they aren't big readers and have never had this sort of dream.

@Papergirl1968

Yes i thought it was normal until someone asked me if i 'see the words' when i read or not. I generally can never recall the words used to describe a scene but can remember what happened in my imagination quite vividly. Interestingly while my visualisation of colours and faces are not good. My spacial imagination is excellent (i work in landscape design and 3d modelling)

I think there is quite a wide range and spectrum of what and how we visualise. Some can not visualise at all and have no ability to picture in the mind.

That's intetesting, @Luckydog7 I don't "see" the words either. I'm not conscious of reading individual words or sentences.

The biggest difference I found, @Marghe87 , was the short attention span as a result of smartphones .

Getting into the habit of leaving my phone in my bedroom for a full day at least every week - a weekly digital detox - helped me find my concentration and re-engage with reading during the pandemic lockdown where my attention span was shot.

The benefits? Living a thousand lives, the joy, drama and catharsis, finding new friends who live on your bookshelves, never being lonely or bored because there's always an adventure or friend to engage with.

You're never alone when you've got a good book.

I used to be a big reader and for a while was a regular poster on the 50 books thread. But earlier this year i had a sudden and life changing devent in my life. I'm still dealing with the aftermath and I function ok day to day but I don't read like I used to. Almost like I've lost the brain capacity. I'd love to get back to it so looking for some inspiration here.

It is grey, which isn't the best colour

It's like a very big pillow with arms-it looks like a very big squishy car seat. I found it on John Lewis and I'm excited about it because sometimes I just can't get comfy with ordinary pillows, even French ones.

What's a reading pillow? Sounds wonderful!

What are the actual benefits of reading you experience

Pleasure.
Escapism.

There are all sorts of worthy reasons.... expanding vocabulary, knowledge, understanding other experiences or cultures (depending on what you read, of course)

But the most important thing for me is the sheer joy a good book brings.

You just have to find the right one(s) for you

I used to always read in bed, then I switched to watching Netflix etc on the laptop.
There is no doubt that that change made it harder to get to sleep, impacted on the quality of my sleep and made me a bit more marsh mallow like with a low level headache when I woke up.
Reading in bed gives me a better sleep, although probably not if I read something upsetting.
I have just sent off for a Reading Pillow, so hoping that will make reading in bed easier too.

I've always been a reader. I always read in bed before I go to sleep (as do dh and my teenage dc) and always have. Tbh I don't think of it in terms of concrete benefits, I just do it because I love reading.

Same here. My phone use has ruined my attention span. I’m definitely screen addicted.

Im trying to use audio books more than scrolling or tv before bed but I really would like to read more. I used to read every day before having children

I have always been a big reader but might go a week or so without reading at times. I usually get unsettled after a few days though!

I think it's made me more curious about the world, I read things and want to know more about the place/people/time period etc. Like a pp, my vocabulary and grammar is generally considered to be pretty good, which is at least partly from reading. It helps me relax. I always have something to do if I have a book. Books just make me feel content!

I'm an avid reader, have been my whole life, it's my favourite pastime. Benefits for me are that I can completely lose myself in a book so if I'm stressed or anxious or fed up I know that picking up a book will distract me. It helps me sleep where nothing else is as effective. I enjoy looking forward to starting a new book or getting to the end of one, it adds a rhythm to my life I suppose. I also enjoy the quiet particularly now there is no exh here with the TV on constantly.

I love reading. I usually read an hour or so before bedtime.

I also read more in the winter months... I have a reading chair and a cosy blanket... best thing for the long dark evenings!
I find it relaxing and calming, reading gives me some "time out" from my busy life.

If you want to go back to reading, get something fast moving with short chapters. Read every day before bedtime for 20- 30 minutes.