Like many kids, I was a die-hard bookworm. I would come home with armfuls of books from the library every week and would finish them all in a couple of days. Reading was an addiction for me–I’d use the night light in my room and read a book by it late into the night. I would read while eating dinner, which made me take twice as long to finish my food. I’d sit in the shopping cart as my parents wheeled me around for groceries and passed the time by, you guessed it, reading.
On the late-night car rides home from a party or a dinner potluck, I would beg my parents to let me turn the car light on at night so I could read, but I, just like every other kid who loved reading, got brainwashed into the universal made-up law that turning the car light on at night was illegal (thanks a lot, Mom and Dad).
There was something so magical about letting my eyes soak the pages and absorb the breathtaking stories crafted into each book. As I grew older, my habit of reading dissolved. I started to involve myself in other things that interested me, like playing Sudoku, painting, going for bike rides, and of course, scrolling on my phone. Reading started to feel like an inconvenience. Books may have been an interest for me as a kid, but I felt like I’d outgrown it.
It was the first week of my senior year, and my English teacher talked about how he implements reading into his course units to encourage his students to read more. Instead of forcing us into a one-size-fits-all reading list, he made us explore a variety of genres—like memoirs and graphic novels—to give us the freedom to choose what truly spoke to us.
Winter Break came around the corner (finally) and my English teacher gave us an extra credit opportunity. All we had to do was read a novel of our choice over Winter Break and stay after school for a hot chocolate discussion about the books we read.
For someone who still held a spark of love for reading deep down, I knew this was my moment to reconnect with my love for books. I decided to start the year fresh with Divergent by Veronica Roth, a book that had been on my to-read list for years. My friends had raved about it, and since I was already a fan of science fiction, I knew it was right up my alley. I had never considered the dystopian genre, but the more popular those kinds of books got, the more it intrigued me.
Maybe it was the way the word “dystopian” sounded (say it out loud, you’ll know what I mean) or the fact that so many dystopian books became adapted into movies, but I knew that Divergent was the book I needed to read to get into reading again.
Ever since I started reading Divergent (I’m currently reading the second book of the trilogy), I’ve found myself dedicating at least 15 minutes of my time reading every day. It’s not something that’s forced or scheduled. It’s pure joy, something I looked forward to each day.
I know I’m making it sound like my main motivation for getting back into reading is to experience the nostalgic joy it offered, but that’s not the only thing. I always viewed reading as a hobby since it was something I picked up at an early age for fun, but I never considered the health benefits that came with it. My English teacher mentioned that dedicating daily time into reading not only improves general focus, reduces stress, and potentially improves your memory and analytical thinking skills, but it can go as far as reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Growing into habits that can risk my long-term health is undeniably something that scares me, so I took that to my advantage and used that as my main source of motivation to get back into reading. A single week into my reading goal of 15 minutes per day, I noticed a drastic change in myself. I became noticeably happier and less stressed. I got much more focused in class and started to take my academics more seriously. I procrastinated on my assignments less and didn’t pass my time on my phone as much.
Reading even changed my family dynamics–I found myself smiling at home more and spending more desired time with my family because I was less tense. I started to treat reading like an award–I could allow myself to read before bed after finishing all my schoolwork. I actually started waking up in a good mood because I got to destress the night before by reading.
Before this year, the last time I remember reading a book simply for fun was back in freshman year. I’m a senior now. I’m aware that the gap may be larger for some people, but reading is such an enjoyment for me that I truly can’t imagine my life without it. I know it might sound cheesy, but reading transformed my mindset, my habits, and even my relationships. If you haven’t picked up a book in a while, I highly recommend you start. Books aren’t just stories. They’re escapes, and sometimes even lifelines. Just like me, you might be surprised by how much it impacts you.
Author: Diksha Lal
