Fall is here and you might be finding yourself inside due to the colder temperatures. How will you ever spend your time? Reading is the perfect way to unwind after a long day, and give yourself some time to relax. The perfect thing about reading is that you can travel into any universe you want. If you are wanting to get into the fall spirit, you can navigate the horror and thriller genre. If you are looking for that fall relationship, you can live out your dreams through romance novels. But reading can also go deeper than the surface.
“Shorter days and cooler nights remind us that another summer has passed. The golden leaves of autumn stir feelings of nostalgia, comfort, and anxiety as we feel winter approaching. During this season, many readers long for a certain kind of book—one that will take them on an emotional journey with characters they care about, people who are living through their dark nights while pulling their coat collars tighter against the howling rain and wind,” says author Jim Hight.
Reading often gives people the opportunity to learn about themselves through the words and stories of another character. The more connected you feel to the story, the more you tend to relate it to your own life. Reading is like a version of self-therapy because it can help people work through the toughest battles they are facing behind closed doors.
For example Jim Hight, author of “Moon Over Humboldt,” drew on his own experiences with addiction and recovery to help inspire his audience. His book is not a direct copy of his own life, but it takes bits and pieces to create something new. This perspective has not only helped him heal from his past, but is inspiring others to head down a path of recovery.
“I am drawing readers into the bitter conflicts over forest management that I reported on as a journalist in Humboldt County. But soon one of the loggers and one of the activists—men who narrowly avoided clashing in the forest that first morning—cross paths in a 12-step program and find in each other a kindred spirit who could help each man rebuild a life shattered by addiction and loss. That is if they can navigate their divided loyalties and conflicting political views,” says Hight.
Reading has a positive impact on your mental and physical health. Studies show that being encapsulated by a good book can reduce your stress by 60%, because it lowers your heart rate and eases your mind. Not only does it sometimes help you solve your own personal struggles, but it helps you be more in tune with your emotions. Sometimes all you need is an outlet to let yourself feel, and a book can bring out some of those feelings that are buried deep down. Books have the ability to allow its reader to feel vulnerable and connect with characters. The insight books provide is an avenue for people to cope with whatever life throws at them.
If nothing else, reading a book can be a good distraction to the tough things in life. Everyone goes through hard things, and reading can be a healthy escape. Distractions can help people regulate their body and mind, so they can think clearly about things. Reading is a buffer to help give people advice on potential decisions or help them take a step back from reality.
Reading offers so many mental and physical benefits. This fall season is the perfect time to settle down with a few good books, to help get you through whatever life throws your way. Reading can put your own experiences and feelings into perspective, which can do wonders on your mental health as a whole. Reading is like free therapy and can help you be the best version of yourself. Sometimes all you need is a little push to be vulnerable and books can help you get there.
