I’m an avid reader and have been my entire life from my childhood favourites of Amelia Jane by Enid Blyton, anything by R.L.Stein to Jacqueline Wilson. However, as life gets busy and working from home becoming the new norm for those who previously commuted into the office, it’s hard to find time to read. So why bother?
It can seem like the last thing you may wish to give your time to however reading can provide so many benefits to our lives and most importantly can support our mental wellbeing. If you need convincing why bother to make the time, then here are the reasons I think reading is great for mums, and read my blog 5 ways to find time to read as a busy mum if you’re struggling to find time for it:
- It is a great way to unwind
Picture yourself curling up on a chair or lazing on your bed with a book in hand and a nice steaming hot cuppa nearby. Reading can be so relaxing and can help to divert your mind from what’s worrying you, enabling you to feel less stressed. In addition, while reading you may find solutions to some of the challenges you’re facing.
*So why not try….*
A book that had me gripped on vacation a few years back was My Sister the Serial Killer by Sunday Times and The Times #1 best seller Oyinkan Braithwaite.
So if you’re thinking I can never get into a book then try this one to start.
2. You can do it wherever, whenever
Reading can be done on-the-go whether that’s a bus, train or even car journey (if you enjoy audio books). You don’t have to be situated anywhere and it’s not time bound. You can do 5 minutes or 25 minutes of reading. I love my Kindle too. It’s honestly how I found time to read on maternity leave by reading while breastfeeding at 2am in the morning. The only challenge was when the book was so good and I didn’t want to go back to sleep even when my daughter had.
*So why not try….*
My maternity leave book of choice was something easy to read and fun found in The Wedding Party by New York Times best seller Jasmine Guillory.
3. It provides a moment of escapism
What I love is how reading can help you to switch off and be transported into a completely new world. You can get engrossed in the story line, the characters and the place that you can escape your current worries as a mum temporarily. Plus reading self-help books can motivate you and lift your spirits. If you’re an anxious person it can provide this feeling of tranquility.
*So why not try….*
A book that helped me to feel completely transported into a new world most recently was Where the Crawdad sings by Delia Owens who has sold over 12 million copies of this book.
4. It’s not a costly hobby
When it comes to finding something to do for yourself as self-care we often think of things that cost money but as I share in 13 easy self-care tips for the busy mama it doesn’t have to cost much if at all. Reading for me is a hobby that is relatively inexpensive as you can find books for free or very cheap as I share in Love to read? Here are 10 places to find your next book. Plus you can read your book as many times over as you wish! Not to mention asking for books as a gift.
*So why not try….*
One my most recent purchases that was relatively inexpensive (under a fiver) was How to Kill your Family by Bella Mackie, the #1 Sunday times bestseller.
5. It takes you away from distractions like social media or tv
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Netflix binge as I share in 5 Netflix shows to binge when cluster feeding or endlessly scrolling on social media, however when it comes to winding down these things don’t help. A good book can not only remove you from what everyone else is doing and allows you stop comparing by becoming absorbed in words on a page. You also get the added benefit of even learning something if you decide to read a non-fiction. It’s new knowledge that you wouldn’t have acquired otherwise and can help support you as a mum.
*So why not try….*
A book that has helped me acquire new knowledge this year has been Atomic Habits by James Clear, the million-selling life changing book.
6. It helps to improve your focus and concentration
Let’s face it, it’s getting harder every day to concentrate for long periods of time. You only have to look at Tik Tok to see that the world craves short bite-size content for a quick dopamine hit. You may also be guilty of lacking focus when engaging with your children by checking your phone every 5 minutes. You’re not alone.
Reading can however help improve our concentration by training our brain. If you make reading a daily habit you’ll be able to retrain your brain to concentrate for periods of time.
*So why not try….*
A book that enabled me to have this focus is one that was so engrossing that I kept returning to it: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Oswald.
7. Brilliant mental stimulation for your brain
Reading is good for you and good for your body too. It provides mental excercises for your brain just as if you were hitting the gym every day. We need it too. There are studies that show how reading can help slow down onset of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in later life (source: Fisher Center For Alzheimer’s Research Foundation: Mental Stimulation Slows Alzheimer’s Progression).
What has been helping me exercise at the moment are books that I can read without too much exertion i.e. it can be easily lifted up and down without worrying about where I got to last. Books like this for me are those short reads and I suppose that can be like the 10 minute workout video on YouTube.
*So why not try….*
One short book I enjoyed was The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman which is all over 26 pages long! It is said to be one of the most important feminist literature and one which explored issues about women’s health, both physical and mental.
If you’re excited so much by kicking your reading mojo back into gear, would you want to share that by setting up a book club? Read more about how you can do that here.