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

[Marghe87]

Have you always been a reader? I used to be but have stopped in the past few years and I am finding it hard to start again after DD.
I want to get back into the habit and looking for some extra motivation. What are the actual benefits of reading you experience when getting back into the habit of doing so regularly?

Blatant place marking. I would love to get back into reading but seem to have lost all motivation - and powers of concentration - to do so.

I was a reader until my thirties really. I have rediscovered reading only very recently from rejoining the local library. About a year ago (am now 58).

It is such great entertainment and I am finding it much more edifying than tv or even Netflix. I won't necessarily read one book a week or anything but it comes in waves.

It takes me to a different dimension and especially when it is well written it is very easy to visualise everything too.

Yep, always been a reader. Every night I read in bed for 20-30 mins before turning the light out and it relaxes me and helps me sleep better. That's with a proper book, not an e-reader.

Place marking - want to start reading again.

I got back into reading properly when I was spending an hour or so every evening sitting in the car waiting for the kids during activities. It felt a better use of the time than mindless scrolling.
We then had no tv or internet at home for 2 weeks when moving provider and I read so much! It was lovely.
For me, it is relaxing and allows me to escape into other worlds. I don’t like horror or crime tv but in books I can control where my mind chooses to go, I find.
I also think it sets a good example to my kids, who are good readers but prefer other pursuits!

Me too! It's a delight and a nice end to the day.
I'm currently on the new Robert Galbraith 'The Ink Black Heart' which is a bit heavy to hold, but so nice to have something that will keep me going for some time.

www.bookbub.com/welcome

I joined book bub. Put in your preferences you get a daily email of books for free or 99p.

Turn off the TV or find a quiet Room and enjoy

I read every day, usually for an hour before bed. Have read 52 books this year.

I've read every single day for as long as I've been able to read . Still have proper newspapers too .

To answer your question...

My vocab is really big. I read books/novels from very young and despite discovering I'm actually dyslexic, the assessment revealed I'm 1st percentile for vocab. I wasn't a social child so can only attribute to reading.

Relaxation - can't worry about your stressful life when you are imagining being a dragon rider or whatever.

Incidently I recently learned that it is fairly unusual that I don't 'see' the words as I read. I wonder if this is the reason some are big readers as they are transported into the world whereas others find it a chore as all they see is letters so can't find it as absorbing.

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.

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 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!

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'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.

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.

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

What's a reading pillow? Sounds wonderful!

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.

It is grey, which isn't the best colour

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.

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.

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

@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.

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.