Summer is the perfect time to plow through some reading. When we read regularly, we expand our minds, gain knowledge, feel more connected, and engage our imaginations. Reading is one of the most rewarding ways to spend your summer days. Kick back with a book while lying on the beach. Here’s a guide to the myriad benefits of reading and tips for how to build a stellar reading list.
Benefits of Reading in Recovery
Reading is the ultimate way to squash boredom. Boredom can be daunting in recovery, as our minds tend to wander towards the past or future. When we read, we stay in the present moment, enhance our imaginations, and expand our minds (and our vocabularies). Reading is also a wonderful way to take in information. When we read, we imagine the events of the book unfolding in our minds and this strengthens the imagination muscle, ultimately serving to boost mood and ground you within the moment. Reading is also a healthy form of escape. Getting invested in a good book takes us away from our daily lives and mental chatter while also offering new experiences and feelings. We return to our lives refreshed. We carry the newfound knowledge of the book and relate to people and our environments in more expansive and deep ways.
Making Time for Reading
Carve out a chunk of time each day to devote to reading. Bring your books with you on vacation and anytime you might have a free moment to read. Reading trumps social media in terms of mind expansion.
How to Build Your Reading List
There’s no point in making a reading list of books you won’t like or know you’ll never finish. Build a reading list based on your interests and choose authors, subject matters, and genres that speak to you. If you’re not sure where to start, simply stroll through your local bookstore and see what jumps out at you. Choose books based on the knowledge that you’ve been wanting to attain. For example, perhaps you’ve been curious about astrophysics. Grab a book on the subject. At the same time, you’ll want to choose books that offer entertainment. Reading is the ultimate way to expand your mind, your horizons, and be present while also escaping into the world of words.
Tree House Recovery of Portland, Oregon uses cutting-edge techniques in individualized programs to help men achieve freedom from addiction. Taking a holistic, sustainable approach to the inner and outer effects of addiction ensures you or your loved one will emerge with the confidence and skills to manage your addiction independently. No one is beyond help- our Admissions Counselors are available 24/7 at (503) 850-2474
