By Yin Nwe Ko
WE ALREADY know reading stimulates thinking and consequently, thinking again bears writing. Except for some examples such as the writing of one’s experience, 80 per cent of writing needs thinking. Nevertheless, it is natural and habitual we read something to be read. Reading for pleasure is widely regarded as a good thing but is that enough?
It’s enough for those of us who happen to love reading and who have time for it. But what if we had evidence that it was such a good thing that omitting it from a school curriculum or timetable was a bad thing? What if senior management teams needed evidence? What if school library funding were being cut? What if too many people were too busy to prioritize reading for pleasure? What if teenagers were avoiding it because no one was telling them how it would affect their lives, well-being, and perhaps even exam results?
It turns out that all those things are true. It turns out that reading for pleasure has a wide range of extremely important benefits, which we absolutely owe our young people. I would like to argue that not promoting reading for pleasure and not creating a reading culture in school is a dereliction of duty towards our students. It will make their lives poorer.
Until 2015, I felt this in my heart but the actual evidence was flimsy. There were many studies but some were very small or not replicated and it was hard to be able to say with any certainty what the results really showed. All that changed in 2015 when a Reading Agency published its Literature Review, a meta-study of hundreds of other studies over many years. “Reading for pleasure has a dramatic impact on life outcomes,” was the headline conclusion. The research also showed that it wasn’t just the daily act of reading but the enjoyment of it that made the difference.
Hence the phrase “reading for pleasure”. So, now we know: Daily reading for pleasure positively affects mental health, self-esteem, vocabulary, general knowledge, socioeconomic status, relationships, mood control, empathy, self-understanding, and stress levels. It was that last one – stress levels – that led me to invent the concept of “readaxation”. I define this as “Reading for pleasure deliberately to lower stress levels, thus increasing wellbeing and performance.”
Why might reading for pleasure reduce stress?
Because readers believe it does. Ask any reader, “Do you think reading for pleasure would reduce stress?” and most say yes. Confirmation bias means we tend to see what we expect to see: if we expect to see stress reduction, we do.
If we’re engaged in a book we can’t simultaneously be worrying – it gives negative thoughts a break
Reading for pleasure allows a state of “engagement”, offered by Martin Seligman, an American Psychologist, educator, and author of self-help books, and others as an importantly positive and transformative psychological state.
It leads to increased self-worth, itself likely to reduce the stress of negative feelings
We can choose books to create the desired emotion. If our emotional state is one we don’t like, we can change that by reading a book that will make us feel another emotion.
Reading gives us space away from the demands of other people. It gives us a break. This is especially important for introverts.
What if our schools do not care enough about stress and well-being?
They should care because too much stress and poor well-being lower exam results. There’s also a strong link between daily reading for pleasure and improved exam results, the better overall performance at school. How can I help our students read more? The tips for all classroom teachers are as follows: -
Don’t leave it to English teachers or librarians – this is a human activity, for all ages.
Read yourself. Talk about what you read.
Show an interest in everything your students read. Ask them for recommendations.
l Never disparage their reading choices. Fiction or non-fiction – neither is “better”.
Introduce silent reading time into your practice (you must read while they’re reading). Look for schemes such as DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) and ERIC (Everyone Reads In Class.) The beginning or end of the day are great times for this; it’s settling and calming.
Support your school librarian and library.
In addition, some of the other factors may support our pleasure of reading.
Unwinding with a good book is a hobby many of us enjoy, but perhaps we take for granted how much it can contribute to our well-being. In a busy world full of technology and distractions, reading can help us to reduce stress, understand life, and see our problems in a different light. In England, about two-thirds of the population read books for pleasure. It’s a hobby that research has linked to improvements in our mood, and a greater sense of community and empathy for others. If you are one of these many bookworms, you probably know that feeling of becoming completely immersed in a book to the point where you block out everything else. Your mind becomes focused and any worries you had fade out.
Even reading for a few minutes when you feel stressed might give you the time-out you need to feel better. Meera Phull, a Mental Wellbeing Nurse at Bupa, says: “Reading offers such a wonderful opportunity for escapism, to broaden the imagination, and to keep our minds active and learning. I like to have two books on the go at any time. I have one that is informative and motivating, and one that is pure leisure reading and helps me switch off and relax.”
How to fit reading into your day
Where and when do you like to read? There are lots of points in the day when you might fit in a few pages. I spend a couple of hours a day especially, at night, as part of my commute, and becoming absorbed in a good book always feels like a valuable way to use that time. Many people find their reading time at home. One of my intimate friends says: “For me, reading represents escape and cosiness. I like settling down on a rainy afternoon with a book, a cup of tea, and a blanket, and letting myself get lost in another world. I really like stories about everyday life. I find that reading novels about different people and the scrapes they get themselves in helps me understand the world a bit more. And I love meeting a character that makes me laugh and who I can relate to.” Bedtime is one of the most popular times to read, and four in ten readers say reading helps them to sleep better. Reading a book could be an important part of your pre-bedtime routine.
What are the differences in various life situations?
Reading can be helpful for people in all kinds of life circumstances. When parents read books to their children, it can have psychological and social benefits for both of them. A review of studies covering over 3,000 families found that for older people, evidence suggests that reading books can be a successful way to prevent feelings of loneliness. Reading as you age may also be an important way to keep your brain active and engaged.
If you are dealing with a particular health problem, reading certain books may help you to understand and cope with the situation. Reading Well Books on Prescription is run in association with local libraries. It’s a scheme where you can look for expert-approved books to help with everything from mental health problems to long-term conditions. As another example, we have a list of books about dementia that could help people diagnosed with dementia or their careers.
The time you should make for the reading?
Would you like to read more? One of the barriers to spending time reading might be feeling too busy to pick up a book. A way to overcome this could be to set yourself a goal and commit to making reading part of your schedule. I also think it’s important, to be honest with yourself about what books you genuinely enjoy, rather than forcing yourself through books that you find hardgoing. That way, you will naturally feel more inclined to read more, as you will look forward to discovering where the next few pages will take you.
All in all, in a study conducted by the University of Sussex, individuals who had read for merely six minutes exhibited slower heart rates, less muscle tension, and reduced stress levels. Besides, another research has found that reading for relaxation and pleasure has been found correlated to higher community participation and greater insight into human nature and decision-making. Here, it is enough to realize that reading for pleasure is a kind of readaxation, I think.
Reference: Teaching Teen
