A Special Treat and Major Inspiration
I asked my sweet friend, Allie Moore (whom I met during my CrossFit days, and yes she is quite strong!) to share a little about her love for reading and specifically the benefits reading brings to her life.
I first learned of her love for reading when she launched a “Bookstagram” titled @the_Moore_she_reads. She shares her honest book reviews, overall love for books, and encourages thoughtful conversation.
Allie says….
I’ve always been an avid reader, in 2020 I set a goal to read 52 books in 52 weeks! When I set the goal, I thought it would be a stretch, but I knew I wanted to decrease my screen time and engage my mind a little more. After lockdown started in March, I really increased my reading and by the end of June I had already read my 52 books. I decided to double my goal for the year and I ended up exceeding that goal as well! In the last year, I’ve read SO many great books, learned a lot of new things, and also noticed a major improvement in my mental health! Here are three things I’ve noticed:
- Reading is a form of meditation. Working from home can be taxing. Six hours of Zoom calls and staring at spreadsheets and sales reports can really take a toll on you. I found that if I take an hour a day where I put my phone on silent and pick up a book, I feel less stressed and rejuvenated.
- I sleep better! Instead of watching a tv show before bed, I’ve started picking up a book instead. (I do recommend a print book vs a screen if you’re going to try this!)
- Reading can reduce symptoms of depression. We moved to a new state during the pandemic, where almost everything was shut down. Moving to a new place can be lonely, and not being able to attend social gatherings makes you feel further isolated. When I jump into a fiction book, I feel like I’m leaving my world and jumping into another. Non-fiction can teach you ways to manage your symptoms and improve your mental health.
Isn’t she adorable?!
The pandemic has been hard on all of us, but I love that Allie made proactive goals for herself and took control over her mental health.
Also, notice the benefits she shares align to The 4 factors of Wellness I’ve been highlighting this year. The 4 are intertwined and lead to a longer, more fulfilling life! A big THANK YOU to Allie for sharing her thoughts with us today, if you want to learn more about Allie and be even more inspired by her reading goals (which I highly recommend) – you can find her on Instagram here @the_Moore_she_reads.
How has reading benefited your life? What books have you read and loved lately? I’d love to hear from you. Thank you for reading and following along for another month of Wellness! Happy March!