Q&A: How Is Reading a Form of Self-Care?

Every few weeks I’m going to post a Q&A on different topics. The subjects I cover will include everything from books to creativity, innovation, productivity, self-improvement, starting a business, writing, parenting, and much more. This week, I explain why I think reading is a form of self-care and something we should make time for in our busy lives. If you have any comments, suggestions, or further questions on this topic, feel free to contact me! 

Q: Self-care is a buzzy term. How do you define self-care, and what does it mean to you?

A: In our modern world, we tend to have really long to-do lists and we’re always trying to get more stuff done in a short amount of time. I think of self-care as slowing down and doing things that enable you to reset and recharge. The goal of self-care is allowing yourself to be more productive and effective, whether that’s at work, the gym, or home. 

Q: What are some examples of self-care?

A: Self-care can take a lot of different forms — it can be any number of things that nourish your brain, your body, or your soul. Of course, reading is one great example. Creating through art, pottery, or music is another; that kind of activity is a counterweight to all the time we spend on our devices. Exercise is wonderful, but focus on doing something that you enjoy and that refreshes you, and be careful not to overdo it. For a few years, I raced mountain bikes and competed in cyclocross races; the training and race schedules were so intense that I only depleted myself more. Now I meditate and do yoga, plus ride bikes at a more moderate pace, which really helps me connect to something greater and energizes me. 

Q: How does reading fit into your self-care regimen? What are your reading habits?

A: I like to read The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and other magazines in the morning before I really get the day started, often while I do my stretches (an active lifestyle and lifting lots of books in my career has necessitated a daily stretching and strengthening self-care routine, especially for my back). I also read before bed, for twenty minutes or more. I’m usually working on three books at one time — typically a novel, a history or biography, and a business or self-improvement/productivity book. Depending on how I feel that night, I’ll pick up the one that interests me the most. I’ve found that I sleep much better if I read from a print book before going to bed; it calms my mind. I wear a Whoop strap (a watch that monitors your heart rate and other health metrics), and it has confirmed that I get better REM sleep when I read before bed. 

Q: What are the qualities or consequences of reading that make it a form of self-care?

A: Reading requires all of your attention while you do it, and I think that’s a good thing! Reading is valuable not only for the information it provides and the stories you experience, but also for the act itself and the quiet and stillness it brings. Reading from the printed page is the first step toward reclaiming our attention spans, our focus, and our time. When we read, we’re focusing on one thing at one time, and we should appreciate having the opportunity to do that. The practice of focusing on one thing is increasingly hard to cultivate in today’s world because we’re constantly bombarded with distractions.

Q: Do you have any tips for people who would like to read more frequently, or get more out of the time they spend reading? 

A: This might seem obvious, but if you’re trying to get into reading more, the first step is choosing material you know you’ll enjoy. Reading anything in print is better than nothing — and you don’t have to start with War & Peace. You can start with a magazine that interests or entertains you, or an easy-reading page-turner. I don’t judge anyone who reads. Second, start small. Take 15 minutes to read just one chapter or magazine article per day. If you’re super busy, that might mean waking up 15 minutes earlier or going to bed 15 minutes later, but it’s worth shifting your schedule a little bit to accommodate reading; the pros really do outweigh the cons.

Q: How can you tell that self-care activities, and reading in particular, are beneficial?

A: Self-care routines are very individualized, so everyone is going to have their own measure of success — and definition of what “success” means — but I firmly believe that we can tell when we’re doing something that’s good for us. Self-care is about enhancing the quality of your everyday life. Specifically with reading, if over time you find yourself being able to read longer and focus better on what you’re reading, that’s cause for celebration! Reading is like exercise in the sense that it might be difficult at first — you might find yourself distracted by other things or your attention span might be low — but when you do it regularly, you get over the initial hump and eventually enjoy it and the way you feel afterwards. Whatever activity you take up or routine you follow, you’ll know it’s working when the other things in your life start to flow better because you’re taking care of yourself.