The mental health benefits of reading...

I’ve been thinking about starting a little Blog for a while now, but I really wasn’t sure what to write about. There seemed little point in writing something that wasn’t useful to anyone who happened to stumble upon my content and, to ensure I keep on posting entries, it needs to be engaging for me too! Many moons ago, I created a Blog about reading. I have always had a real passion for literature and books. And it just so happens that 2026 has been designated as the National Year of Reading. The idea is to encourage people – particularly children - to take up reading. There is a proven link between regular reading in childhood to better overall outcomes in life – in terms of careers and earning potential. It’s a known fact that boys tend to read less than girls. They veer more towards sport and gaming. That said, genres such as manga/graphic novels, fantasy, Sci-Fi, crime/thrillers are popular with men. If kids read, they are more likely to continue reading in their spare time into adulthood.

For me, reading is a wonderful escape. I read every day without fail. I currently have more than 50 books on my ‘To Be Read’ stack. But you don’t need to be a hardcore bibliophile to reap the benefits. Even a few pages a day is beneficial. If I have worries or stresses, I find losing myself in a good book helps relieve this. It’s not necessarily about avoidance, but maybe more about switching off difficult feelings and emotions and, ultimately, making the troubles of life more bearable and manageable. Some studies have shown that reading as little as 10 minutes a day can reduce stress levels by up to 68%. That’s pretty amazing if you stop and think about it. What a simple, quick, cheap (join your local library!) method of relieving stress! It has been shown to improve mood and lower heart rate more effectively than drinking a nice cup of tea or listening to some relaxing music.

So, with all that in mind, what should we read? Well, anything at all! Whatever floats your boat. Don’t be put off by book snobs – if you love Dan Brown, that’s fine. Given that I do a lot of reading, I thought it would be a nice idea to share some of the books I have loved over the months and years. I want to share with you books that deal with life in a way that makes us feel less alone and isolated by what we are experiencing in our own lives. It’s good to know that other people have been through something similar. These might be novels that deal with a particular subject matter or life event. There are also plenty of non-fiction books that I’d like to share: self-help books or autobiographies by people with something valuable to say. Stay tuned for what will hopefully be the first of many inspiring book reviews and recommendations. I’ll also be adding the odd post here and there to offer useful insights into other methods of managing mental health.

March 2026