Read Books, Reduce Stress

Did you know that reading for 10 minutes will reduce your stress levels by 68%?  This is a great fact to throw at people, but not many think about how this happens.  I’d like to share 2 reasons why we feel more relaxed after reading, but there are many more.

Picking up a book that you’ve read before feels like spending time with an old friend.  There is something comforting about know what’s going to happen next and having no surprises.  This is very different to most people’s everyday experience when unexpected events can leave us feeling upset and anxious.  Taking a few minutes to read about the characters we know and love can feel like being part of a warm and welcoming family.

There may be times when you don’t want that comfort, instead you’re looking for something that gets your heart racing and blood pumping.  Spending time in a world that is the complete opposite of anything you’ve experienced allows your imagination to take flight.  Concentrating on the unusual and fantastical will free you from the never-ending stream of thoughts you normally deal with and gives your mind something new to focus on.

What if you don’t enjoy reading books or you find that reading is difficult?  This is where audiobooks come into their own.  Listening to an audiobook is a wonderful way to relax.  You can close your eyes and switch off from the world while listening to a soothing voice and absorbing the words with no effort.

Don’t worry if you haven’t got a collection of books to choose from or aren’t sure about which books you’d enjoy.  Taking a trip to your local public library is a great way to start your reading journey with help and support.  Library staff are always knowledgeable about the books they have in stock and have a great range of questions they can ask you to find out what you might enjoy.  My favourite question to ask is ‘what’s your favourite film?’.  This gives me an idea as to what genre of book a person might like to start reading and then we can move on from there.  Libraries are no longer places where you have to sit in silence and feel uncomfortable if you’re a new member.  They’re places that welcome everyone and try to make them feel at home.  Within no time you realise that you’ve found a safe place to spend time and you’re now part of a supportive community.