Reading and psychological health

In today’s fast paced world one is hard pressed to find time and energy to look after one’s own physical and mental health needs.
Irrespective of the profession or calling, one frequently is at a loss in addressing basic needs, like adequate relaxation ,motivation and an organised daily programme where there’s a right mix of everything.
Today , there is actually a problem of ‘Information Overload’ ,coupled with an easy access.
The explosive advent of the internet and affordable devices have made everything from microbiology to rocket science available at our fingertips ,literally in the palms of our hands!!!All this has a downside wherein human interaction slowly takes a beating. Further more ,the effort to delve deeper into a subject is avoided with the catchphrase ‘I can google it when I want’.

It is precisely this sort of a platform ,where, we need to visit an an age old actually centuries old tradition of Reading and Books.
Let us explore with a few headings…
What does it mean.
How does one go about it
Why do it and what actually are the benefits
What topics could be considered.
And lastly ,when it is all available why burden oneself with storing information
Now reading in the true sense would mean , selecting a topic and then a book and /or author .First getting a gist of the entire book and then delving into the content.As one goes along the book unfolds with a developing interest.Here again there are preferences e .g the old school with paperbacks or hardbound editions with the use of paper and print or the more modern hand held instruments.

What this does is , it provides an escape from routine stress, shuts out outside noise and provides a focused relaxation. The content itself provides a sense of intrigue and curiosity is triggered.
How does one go about it….Since it is an activity that one consciously attempts , it should preferably be done on a regular basis with minimal distraction in a comfortable position , to yield the best possible results.A general fixation of the time devoted and the period of the day is also advisable.

Coming to the why , is the most interesting part of the discussion.Lots of research has gone into the benefits of reading.
1 Cognitive benefits and improved empathy. By delving into the content of the book one is exposed to different aspects of the topic. An improved focus also enhances the cognitive faculties.
2 As an escape it forms an important tool for stress relief.
3 By settling down in one place as an antidote for agitation and restlessness.
4 It brings an end to loneliness , once one is engrossed in the book
5 By developing an emotional connect and at times identifying with the protagonist, it provides a way out from personal struggles.
6 Of course entertainment .
7 By joining a group of people also with an interest in reading, it improves your social life , e g ,a book club.
8 By joining a library one is at once exposed to a vast variety of topics and authors to help select.
Then comes the selection of topics.
It is advisable to start with topics that grabs one’s interest in the beginning, and then move on gradually to more deeper issues.
Fiction, history ,technology, humour ,all hold a certain attraction.It helps to start small and keep regular time for the reading habit to develop.There should be a good mix and variety in the topics selected , to avoid monotony.
It makes sense to spare time on reading about subjects that are not directly related to one’s profession, thereby broadening the scope of the cognitive domain.

Finally we come to an area espoused by the current generation.
They ask , why burden ourselves with this task , when if it is just information, we can access it in seconds using the various AI models available.
Well, research is now showing, that constant use of AI tools has become detrimental to the development of cognitive abilities, esp in the problem solving abilities.
To glean a synopsis after having read the entire book still remains the best way , rather than pare fabricated summary .Secondly using these tools suppresses the innate abilities to sift through information,process it , retain it and retrieve at will.
Reading therefore is one faculty that humans alone can perform. It is a boon to be able to do so and could well be a saviour on the centuries to come.