Why Do You Like to Read?

I’ve been asked a few times recently why I write about reading so much. What is it that makes me enjoy it so much? I’ve written about this in the past. Reading is something that I got into in my early teenage years, but really took off when I was in my early 20s - when I could choose the books that I got to read is when I really found myself reading a lot more.

Reading has always been a way for me to decompress and disconnect from the world for a few minutes. For me, reading is more about being able to get into a story in a completely different world than the one that I’m living in. That doesn’t mean that every world isn’t real. I enjoy non-fiction as much as a good mystery novel. However, it does allow me to put my mind in a completely different place for a little bit of time.

Reading is also really good for the brain - it helps to keep your mind mentally sharp. However, this is just a nice side effect for me. It’s not the primary reason that I read. However, it is one of the reasons that I prioritize reading over other forms of media for disconnecting from the world we’re in. Movies, TV shows, social media, and video games can all be interesting and fun, but they don’t stimulate my brain in quite the same way that reading does.

As a parent, your real goal should be to find something that you're passionate about, and hold onto it. For you, that very likely won’t be reading. It may be that you love to play a sport, or perhaps you really enjoy doing photography. Find one or two things that you're most passionate about in your life, and make time for them in your life. Your family and kids are important, but so is your mental health. Doing things that you enjoy each week will help you to stay mentally strong.

The hardest part in doing things that you enjoy as a parent is finding time to do them. There are some hobbies and activities that will be really hard for you to do on a regular basis - I’ve written about golf before, but getting in a round of golf every week will likely be difficult. Some activities lend themselves to be more accessible to you as a parent. Try to find simple ways that you can do the things you enjoy without having to spend tons of time each week with them. For golf, set up a simple putting green at home that you can spend some time with each day - we all know that your short game can always use a little work.

Reading is the thing for me that I always find time to do. Getting in a bit of reading each day is actually pretty easy if you want to do it. A few minutes at night, listening to an audiobook with different activities throughout the day, and you can easily get through dozens of books a year. Optimize the time you have throughout your day to make it happen.

Find what you’re most passionate about, and figure out how you can spend time each week on it. You’ll feel much better about yourself when you do.