Reading CAN Be Fun

An article about how reading doesn’t actually totally suck!

As a teenager with full access to almost every social media source, you could possibly think of, reading can seem like a pretty boring activity, right? I mean, why would you want to sit and dedicate your full attention to reading a boring book when you can scroll through TikTok and barely use any brain power? It doesn’t really seem like there’s a point.  

Social media and television are both really easy-to-access entertainment systems that really don’t take any effort at all. This idea of simple entertainment has always been intriguing to people, especially the younger generations who have had the option to do that their whole lives. Reading has quickly become seen as a chore or a strictly school-related activity, as opposed to a fun hobby or interest. In school, education systems a lot of times force kids to read books for classes that, let’s be honest, could be a lot more interesting.  Some examples include Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.  Oh and don’t even get me started on Animal Farm. The whole being forced to read thing, has really put kids in a negative mindset when it comes to reading. 

Reading is extremely beneficial to a young person’s mental strength and abilities. Reading expands knowledge by introducing readers to things they may have never known before.  It also improves reading and writing skills, which can really come in handy when you need to write your college applications or write an email to a potential employer or professor.  Reading also improves concentration and can help lengthen your attention span that we’ve all shrunk from watching 15-second TikToks all day.  It also stimulates brain movement and generates your mind and thought process. Overall, reading can make you a whole lot smarter and more well-rounded.  

The big issue with reading, especially with teenagers, is that they don’t really know that there are types of books out there that aren’t mortifyingly boring. Believe it or not, Shakespeare and F. Scott Fitzgerald aren’t the only authors out there. There are millions of different books and authors with so many different types of content being offered. There are romance novels, dramas, science fiction, fantasy, and so many more. Just because you haven’t found an author or type of book in this world that you like yet, doesn’t mean that there aren’t any.  

Reading can be a struggle for a lot of people, especially us teenagers. I know that I haven’t always been one to exactly love reading, but when I find a good book, it’s hard for me to put it down. And I’m not saying you need to be reading and finishing a book every month, but at least try to read five or so in a year. Finding the type of books you love can be really eye-opening and you might actually end up loving it. The cool thing though, is that when you read what you love, you’re also strengthening your mind and benefitting your mental health.