Angie Haas//Blog Writer
At some point last semester, I had a revelation: I read more books when I was a kid than I read now. Sure, I had more time back then and books were much shorter and less complicated, but as a writing and publishing major, this thought really bothered me. Even though many college students find themselves in a similar situation, many still have a much better knowledge about the literary world than I do. When people say their favorite author, I always end up thinking “Who is that?” or “Never heard of them.” So, last semester I promised myself I would find more time to read, but I wasn’t quite sure where to start.
I understand that it’s a struggle to find time to read as a college student, but I like to remind myself how important it is to read and that in turn motivates me to read more. The most obvious benefit of reading is one that has been drilled into your brain since you were in kindergarten – it builds intelligence. Reading stimulates your mind with the activity that goes on in the brain, yet it’s a lot less stressful than solving math problems. It also allows you to expand your vocabulary as you come across words you don’t know, and who doesn’t love sounding smart? Reading expands your mind and your life – both academically and socially – and also serves as an excellent stress reliever.
So, how do you find time to read as a college student? It’s not as hard as you think.
- My first tip would be to bring a book everywhere you go (within reason of course). I started doing this last semester when I noticed I had more free time in between classes than I thought. For some reason I always find myself showing up to class too early, especially if my class before got out early. Once spent playing games and checking Snapchat, I now pack a book in my backpack and use this time to read. Ten minutes of reading while you wait for class to start might not seem like a lot, but it adds up. I also found that reading before class better prepared me to pay attention and made me more eager to learn, rather than mindlessly thumbing through my phone.
- This may be an overused suggestion, but I think everyone should try reading before bed at least a few times a week. Sometimes after a long day, it’s hard to stop senselessly scrolling through your Instagram feed, but think about all the minutes you spend scrolling in bed that could be spent reading a book. I’m definitely the type of person who can get sucked into a good book late at night, so I try to keep my bedtime reading light-hearted (right now I’m reading The Misfortune of Marion Palm by Emily Culliton). It’s a difficult practice to get into, but definitely worth it as it helps you fall asleep better while also learning and expanding your imagination.
- Finally, although this is definitely the most difficult to do, sometimes you just have to make time to read. I’m not saying you need to set aside an hour every single day to read; college students and especially Emerson students are very involved in the community and have a lot of work to do. I find most of my free time is on the weekends, so in the middle of doing work on Sunday afternoons, I sometimes take a break to read in the Common (weather permitting, of course). Or, when I’m in between classes binge-watching Friends for the fifth time instead of doing homework, I think “maybe I can be a bit more productive with my procrastination” and pick up a book. Reading is my favorite non-guilty form of procrastination.
It’s difficult to find time to read as a busy college student, or to even find time to think, but I think every student should do their best to take advantage of what little free time they have to read and expand their minds and imagination.