This post is Part 7 of a 10 part series that is an extension of this post I wrote on the subject of the importance of introducing some regular Digital Detox time in our lives. In that post I listed 10 Good Reasons to introduce regular Digital Detox time into our lives. Each week for 10 weeks I will expand a little on each of those 10 reasons listed. If you haven’t already, you might like to check out: Part 1 – De-Clutter Your Mind, Part 2 – Reconnect to the Present, Part 3 – Conduct a Self-Audit, Part 4 – Get Outdoors in Nature, Part 5 – Chip away at those extra elusive little chores and Part 6 – Spend some time with your loved ones. This week we look at:
Read a book!
Let’s face it – life can sometimes get a little too serious and sometimes we just feel overwhelmed with so many responsibilities!
Reading can provide both escapism and passive learning. It doesn’t matter how old we are, we can all learn new stuff every single day of our lives! Escapism and learning is not a self-indulgence. It’s good for the soul! We all deserve it and we can all benefit from it!
Reading can also be good for mental stimulation, stress reduction, learning new words, and improving your memory, concentration and focus!
In the digital world we live in, you could say that we are reading all the time BUT there is a big difference between reading online content and switching off and escaping to another world by reading a book.
Many people read on Kindles these days and that’s ok but I personally prefer to hold an actual book in my hands and turn the pages. Curling up somewhere comfy with a book is such a comforting thing to do. It’s my idea of relaxation!
My love of reading started when I was a child. It was so excitingly magical and wonderful that by reading a book I could be transported to another place and time. Reading allowed my imagination to run wild. I loved it and still do! When I was a child my favourite author was Enid Blyton. A couple of favourites of hers were: ‘Shadow the Sheepdog‘ and ‘The Hollow Treehouse’. I actually had a dog named ‘Shadow’ as a child who I had named after the dog in the ‘Shadow the Sheepdog’ book. Many years later, the first dog I owned after being married was a Maltese who I named ‘Shaddi’ in memory of my childhood dog ‘Shadow’.
As an adult, I still love to be swept away in a book to another place and time. If it is a book I have really loved I’m usually sad when I finish it, having become fond of the characters, and I miss them when it ends. This is why I adore book series! Finish one. Start another!
The photograph used today features my childhood Enid Blyton book ‘Shadow the Sheepdog‘ and the book I am currently reading ‘A Table in the Orchard‘ by Michelle Crawford – a book that has swept me away to a little farmhouse in the Huon Valley in Tasmania surrounded in fruit trees and vegetable and herb gardens with a wood-fired stove and smoke curling out of its chimney!
Just for a bit of cute, here’s what the ‘child me’ inscribed on the inside of the ‘Shadow the Sheepdog‘ book:
This is an excellent book for children of any age, 8 – on and on till adult. It was given to me by Dad’s mother when she came to visit us at Mitchell. Enid Blyton is an excellent writer.
So there you have it!
Do you love reading? Do you read on a kindle or prefer the old-fashioned way?
Ciao for now,
Linking up with One Mother Hen for #OpenSlather
17 Comments
I love the escapism of reading! I find it so relaxing and de stressing! And despite having some digital books I still prefer the old fashioned paper versions!
I feel exactly the same Ingrid! 🙂
I would seriously LOVE to read a book. Unfortunately as soon as I sit to read, I am surrounded by kids who want attention! One day it will come again…
The day you can read again in peace will come again Jody! As a mum of three I can guarantee it 🙂
I am finding it really hard to concentrate on reading at the moment,and I’m sure it’s because I’m spending too much time online. I’m working on that at the moment….
I’ve been exactly the same Lydia – which is why I’ve pulled back from the time I spend on social media. 😉
Min,
I cant read from an electronic device. It hurts my eyes and is uncomfortable. Even for work purposes If I receive a document I tend to print it off to read. Its the same with my writing. I write on paper with either black lead pencil or fountain pen and then type it up later.
I love holding a book in my hand and especially so in the winter. Lying in bed being warmed by flannel sheets with either silence or the radio on very low. Currently I’ve gone back to rereading Edwardian fiction. John Buchans stories (39 Steps) and H.G. Wells, and that sort of old fashioned well written work. Really enjoyable and a different style of writing as well.
I’m much the same Patrick. I can read from an electronic device but find it less taxing on my eyes to read from paper. I’m much better at writing by using a keyboard though. It’s all my years in the Corporate world and at computers. My hands don’t work fast enough for me to hand write at the speed of my thoughts and my hands start to ache! I do sometimes print out a blog post and edit it by hand and then come back to the computer and type in the edits. I love holding a book too and most especially in winter. Like you – I flourish in winter! I just love it! 🙂
I love the idea of ‘Digital Detox Time’ Min… this is an absolute must in the busyness of today! This may sound a little strange, yet while my eBook is not in print I don’t have a Kindle or digital reader and prefer the paper method. I am currently reading, Adultery by Paulo Coelho… unfortunately it is not like his other work.
Hi Leanda – I just find my head needs regular ‘Digital Detox’ time in order to function better. I function with so much more clarity if I have a good balance of daily activities. I don’t have a Kindle either. I was gifted an eBook once but it never worked! It would have been good when I commuted to work every day because it could slip in my handbag and not take up room but I’ll always prefer holding a proper book. I’ve read Paulo Coelho’s – ‘The Alchemist’ and absolutely loved it! I must look up what ‘Adultery’ is about. So it’s not as good?
Without fail I read in bed before I go to sleep every night. I rarely have time to read at any other time of the day (like most of us) but I love reading in bed at night. It is also a great way to slow the brain down from the electronic/screen activity, and therefore helps me sleep better.
I usually read each night before sleep too. I feel too guilty to read at any other time (unless away on holidays or in bed sick) as there is usually stuff I should be doing! 🙂
Reading is definitely one of the best ways to relax whilst still feeling productive. Growing up I pretty much only read Enid Blyton and I therefore credit her with my love of literature. I love to read an actual book, and as a reader I don’t think the comparison is the same on a digital device however recently I have found the convenience of ibooks on my Ipad mini just can’t be beaten. For example I finished my book last night so feeling unwell this morning I could just download something new to read without even getting out of bed!
Enid Blyton was fabulous wasn’t she! I’m sure she is the reason for instilling a love of reading in many, many children! I prefer a real book too but do understand the convenience of digital devices for sure! 🙂
I love to read and mix it up between both kindle and hard cover. I always travel with my kindle too
Sounds like good balance to me Natalie! 🙂
I used to love to read as a child, the library at school was a favourite place. I love to learn!
I don’t read too many books right now, I do borrow a fair amount of cook books and magazines though. I love to sit at the table with them with a cuppa tea. I don’t have a kindle, but would most definitely buy one in the future!