Reading Habit
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Joseph Edison.
Earlier, there used to be a time when reading newspapers or books was the first thing people wanted to encounter the moment they woke up. But now, with the birth of technology and excessive use of mobile phones, people have forgotten the habit of reading. Books are the cheapest and simplest way to acquire information even in this digital age. Reading not only relaxes the mind and soul of the human body but also opens up the many hidden dimensions in the minds of a reader and evolves thinking patterns.
As Plato said, “Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”
Over time many new variations have been introduced in the world of reading. The world has gone digital and so are reading habits. Newspapers have turned into e-papers and books have evolved into ebooks. Somehow, it is easier to have access to these digital readings wherever and whenever we find leisure time on our hands. People, especially the younger generation, do not bother taking out some time in their days to read and usually spend most of their days playing games and scrolling through various social networking sites.
There’s no doubt that information is just a click away in this digital world. But, the information that can be acquired through reading books is not available on the internet too. Reading books give birth to many new perspectives in the minds of the readers and opens their minds to creative ideas. Reading can surely transform people into a better version of themselves. It helps us understand life in its pure form and teaches us to live life to its fullest.
Technology is indeed the greatest gift we have been given and it’s all fun and games. But, those who read truly understand the concept, when one starts reading and getting knowledge through books, there is no way back. There’s a whole world that lies under those pleasant pages of the books.
There’s a dire need to involve the young generation in reading and make it an essential part of their lives. One of the reasons our nation is lacking behind is the dying habit of reading around. Parents and the whole education system need to be modded in such a way that reading books become an integral part of children’s daily routine.
Reading has countless benefits. It not only plays a pivotal role in the mental growth of humans but it is proven that those who read are less likely to suffer from mental issues like anxiety and depression as compared to those who do not read. These mental issues have become so common in the young generation nowadays and can easily be eradicated by instilling reading habits in them.
George Raymond Richard Martin, renowned American novelist, and storyteller has rightly said that,
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads, lives only once”.
Author: Areej Waseem