Travel, as wise men say, broadens horizons. But what do you do if you hate the very idea of moving away from the sofa? What if your idea of travelling is going to the supermarket? Well, here's a thought. Grab a book, a magazine, or any piece of literature, and get started on your own discovery of the world – from the comfort of your sofa.
It’s probably not a bad topic right now because even if you did want to travel, the UK weather, potential BA strikes, airport body scanners etc all create serious obstacles to travel. And that’s not to mention the cost.
Getting into the habit of reading may sound a bit facile for some, but believe me, books bring the kind of enjoyment rarely afforded by any other medium, TV included. Why? When you read something, you not only learn about something new, but you also create a different perspective on the matter unhindered by someone else’s emotional slant. Even if it is something you are already familiar with, reading about it may open up new visions and give the whole matter a brand new dimension.
So how do you go about developing the habit of reading? Here are a few Active You suggestions you can try:
1. If you have not been in the habit of reading from a young age, you might find it difficult to suddenly get through an entire book. If this is the case, try starting off with something more light-hearted. For instance, get hold of a magazine. It could be anything – a health magazine, a film magazine, or even a regular Sunday one that comes with newspapers. Since the topics are easier to relate to, you will find it more comfortable to leaf through the pages of a magazine.
2. Get a library membership. This is the first step towards becoming a serious reader. Libraries might seem outdated in the Internet age but it’s not so – the last available figures (2007) show that there were 328 million library visits in the UK, not to mention 76 million web visits for library services such as catalogue enquiries. Libraries are now multi-media hubs but their key focus still remains the books they hold.
Libraries have a huge assortment of books, and you can choose genres according to your preferences. You could begin with comic books or cheerful romantic ones, and then gradually try out different authors and diverse kinds of books.
If you live in a remote area, don’t worry – the UK has hundreds of mobile vans available in most counties. For example, in Suffolk alone, there are six mobile libraries with nearly 700 stops. Most counties will also provide a route map whereby you can see if your village or hamlet is serviced by a mobile library. If not, ask your Council to include your village in its mobile library service!
3. Set aside time for reading. It may initially be difficult to find time out of your regular schedule and use it for reading. A great way of tackling this situation is by carrying a book with you at all times. If you have it in your hand bag, you can read while traveling e.g. on the tube, on a short coffee break at work, or even when you get into bed at night. What counts is this: set aside some time.
4. Visit a charity shop and buy books for pennies. Rather than buy books from new and potentially waste your money, in every high street there will be a charity shop selling books for pennies – why not buy from there?
Getting into the reading habit may take a little time, but it is well worth the effort. And at the end of the day, reading is not only a pleasurable and relaxing activity, but also one that opens up a new world of knowledge.
