World Book Day

World Book Day

Books are read for many different reasons. You can read for entertainment, research, education, increasing empathy, improving mental health, reducing stress, and even to improve memory.

Reading for entertainment can be exciting because it opens a world of real or imagined stories that you get to pick from solely based on what you like and are interested in. The added benefit here is that this can also reduce stress and anxiety by participating in a hobby that is enjoyable to you. Do you like fiction? Science? Romance? Historical fiction? Non-Fiction? Sci-Fi? Memoirs? Biographies? Arts? Sports? The door is wide open to explore a plethora of titles and genres that best fit what you enjoy.

Reading to increase empathy and understanding can be beneficial in your relationships with others and your worldview. When you can read astory and experience the point of view of another person who has experienced something you have not, it can help you to better understand and relate to their experience, creating empathy.

Reading for mental health. It is not uncommon for therapists to recommend books that may be helpful to you along your journey. This of course will depend on your treatment plan and personal preferences. Reading for mental health can even be reading books you’ve selected based on what is currently impacting you, not just what is recommended. There are many different books about anxiety, attachment, perfection, abuse, child development, addiction, depression… the list could go on and on. Books can be a good resource to use in your therapy sessions because they often bring up insights and questions that you can explore in a safe space with your therapist.

There are so many different reasons to read. On this World Book Day, I want to encourage you to find something you can read for fun, no strings attached. No stress, no worries, just enjoying the book you pick!

Happy reading!

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By: Ali Cooper