How to Make Reading a Meaningful Part of Your Self-Care Routine

Mental health is, thankfully, an increasingly-understood aspect of day-to-day living for most in the UK now. After what could easily amount to centuries of stigma surrounding depression, stress, anxiety and their impacts on someone’s quality of life, the conversation is more open and friendly than ever before – opening you up to being much kinder with your mind, body and soul.

This reduced stigma isn’t enough, though. There are still work stresses; the world is still on fire; and knowing you can be up-front about being bogged-down with it all doesn’t fix the whole you-being-bogged-down-with-it-all part. You need to be proactive with your mental health, which means self-care. 

But self-care doesn’t mean bubble baths and cross-legged, app-led meditation sessions. It’s simply a means of giving your mind and body what it needs. Reading can be a hugely powerful piece of the puzzle, and if integrated right, could be the most practical and sustainable form of self-care in your repertoire.

1. Reading as Self-Care

First, let’s explore what it means to make reading a meaningful part of your self-care ritual. How does it translate, and how potent can it be as part of a wider drive towards positive mental health? Well, the foremost reason for which reading is a powerful self-care tool is the mindfulness it represents. By choosing to read, you’re electing to spend time away from trivial distractions, glaring screens and nagging notifications. You’re giving yourself a mental break from a variety of pressures; further, the books you choose can offer comfort, escapism or inspiration depending on your taste, preference or mood at that time – all powerful in and of themselves for feeding your mind.

2. Create a Reading Routine That Fits Your Lifestyle

But integrating reading into your weekly routine can present difficulties – and the last thing you want is to turn an enjoyable mindfulness exercise into something that feels more like a chore on your tick-list. Habit-forming is never easy, but it can be made easier by small, consistent steps towards regularity. Don’t be too ambitious with it; just as no one is reading Infinite Jest from the jump, no one is setting out to read a book a week! Make small accords with yourself, involving 15 minutes of reading before bed or during a commute, and the rest will follow.

3. Choose Reading Material That Supports Your Mood and Wellbeing

Of course, what you choose to read is the most important variable of all. Infinite Jest, totemic as it is, is not everyone’s cup of tea. Give yourself some time to figure out what books might align more readily with your current needs – and have some shortlists ready to meet different moments. If you want to be somewhere ‘else’ for a while, then fantasy books are a great option to have; likewise, if learning is where you want to be, then non-fiction books around your hobbies are ideal.