Developing Reading Habit during Pandemic

Pandemic has significantly retained the students’ activities, especially in vocational schools. Activities such as outdoors and practicum are no longer effective. This condition forces the students to learn from home. Like it or not they have to be in such circumstances. They are taking their online classes and they also can help their parents buy groceries through an app. In spite of those limitations, they are lucky to have more time for hobbies at home.

Developing hobbies is worthwhile in this current situation. Now that people have more time while doing their work or study from home. Many are taking up hobbies for fun or just past the time and to end up with a valuable skill they can use. I also have more time to read. It is challenging because sometimes my cat jumping onto my lap trying to play with me as I am reading, and it requires me to focus. I think reading can be a time-killing activity while still maintaining productivity

Developing a reading habit can be effective. People can read everywhere, even in their bathrooms.  The book can be a lot of handy compared to the cooking set or soccer ball. The online website through universities library often offers the full texts of pre-copyright literary works. For example, “Open Library” which created by Internet Archive, currently contains over 20 million editions and some 6 million authors.  The nearest library can be one of the options. Even the smallest town has a library full of books, free to check out. In the present day, there is also an online book swap program or some bookstores in the local area. This can be an inexpensive way to keep your bookshelf especially if you are a fan of romance novels, pop fiction, or sci-fi. Moreover, reading books boost the quality of your health if you do it regularly.

Reading books benefits both physical and mental health, and those benefits can last a lifetime. They begin in early childhood and continue through senior years. Sometimes, the days can be stressful and worrisome, but when you lay down at night and curl up with a good book, it lifts your spirits and releases the stress and worries. Ken Pugh, the President of Haskins Laboratories stated: “Reading a book, and taking a time to ruminate and make inferences and engage the imaginational processing, is more cognitively enriching, without a doubt, than the short little bits that you might get if you’re into the 30-second digital mode”. In fact, since early years reading was the only form of personal entertainment. Reading has survived the years and the benefits of it have survived right along with the books. Some people might get a hard time sleeping after drinking coffee, but books can help them to pull into a deep and peaceful sleep. As well as that, it will broaden the mind and enhance the writing ability.

Reading is an interactive process between the reader and the writer. According to William (1984), he defines reading as a process whereby one looks at and understands what has been written. Reading is a part of the literature activity that is inseparable from writing activity. Reading is a mental process. When we read, all the information is processed and stored in our memory. This information can be the shape of the symbol, color, or the width of the line. These are needed for a writing activity. When these series of motion occurred repeatedly, then they will enhance our ability to write. These advantages help to make readers well-rounded individuals. Those who write, know the importance of reading books. Author and writing teacher, Roz Morris, has a great take on this. ”Reading exposes us to other styles, other voices, other forms, and other genres of writing. Importantly, it exposes us to writing that’s better than our own and helps us to improve. Reading—the good and the bad—inspires you”. Reading helps us to make connections to our own experiences and emotions. It also makes you a better writer and a better communicator.

The key to developing the reading habit is just starting to open a book and read it. But the consistency takes an important role. After all, we already know reading helps improve both physical and mental health, increase memory, and writing ability. Chances are that all those benefits aren’t happening in just four minutes. Studies at the University of Michigan examined how many hours per week subjects (over 3,600 men and women, over the age of 50) read each week. Based on their responses, researchers determined that people who spend just 30 minutes reading per day lived an average of two years longer than their peers who didn’t. The benefits of those 30 minutes were only observed in subjects who read fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or literary prose. Therefore, choosing the proper book will increase the chance of those benefits.

The choice of book can vary depends on what people are interested in. It may be hobbies or personal interests. Joyce G Saricks, in her book entitled Readers Advisory in the Public Library, isolates five facets of appeals, including Pacing, Characterization, Storyline, Frame and tone, and Style. These five terms allow readers to get a sense of their preferences and language to articulate their tastes. According to a survey by Statista, 27 percent of respondents stated they had read a romance in the year leading up to the study. The most popular genre was mystery, thriller, and crime books, which 47 percent of respondents had admitted to reading in the past year. Hence, the choice of books depends on the situation and condition of the readers. Reading a review online can really help to solve the problem.

Pandemic is a challenge for everyone to face. The effects of it depend on what people do. It can be beneficial or vice versa. It is time to make changes for ourselves. Bernadette Smith quoted on The Power of Purpose Podcast “We will get through this by seeing every challenge as an opportunity to better serve the others. It starts with accepting that the world is bigger than what’s in front of us.” This reading habit can be a kickstart to learn and make the most of the time. Start to read a book, even for 30 minutes, do it every day. That way, we can easily develop our reading habits. (Y)

References:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2816.Ken_Pugh

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/languages/definition-of-reading.php

http://www.literacyworks.org/news/2015/6/2/why-read-reason-7-the-more-one-reads-the-better-writer-they-become

https://www.bustle.com/p/how-much-should-i-read-a-day-these-studies-have-some-answers-on-the-ideal-amount-of-time-70040

https://www.statista.com/statistics/201404/types-of-books-that-american-adults-read/

Saricks, G. Joyce (2005). Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library. ALA Editionss

Image was taken from https://medium.com/@maartenvandoorn/the-complete-guide-to-effective-reading-fc1835937757