Is your life so busy you're wondering how you are going to

find time to read more, especially when it's just for

pleasure? Having trouble justifying it, even to

yourself? Leisure activities like reading are often the

things that slide when life goes into overdrive. And

that's sad because it's an activity that can make life

richer and more enjoyable.

A lot has been written about the benefits of reading for

and to children. However, there is very little about the

benefits to adults in engaging in regular reading. Let me

assure you that the benefits for adults do exist and are

many and varied.

Some of these include:

1. Providing an escape from the day-to-day

Fiction is a great way to take a quick immediate break, to

be instantly transported into another world. Today you

could be in America, in the deep south with Alice Walker's

The Colour Purple, tomorrow in the Australian bush with

Tim Winton's Dirt Music, next week in downtown London

with Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones Diary and next month

in Ireland with Jim O'Neill's At Swim, Two Boys'. There

is no limit to the places fiction can take you.

2. Relaxation

There is something about stopping to focus on words

arranged for our reading pleasure that is instantly

relaxing. Maybe it's staying still, something that doesn't

seem to happen often enough. Maybe it's knowing that we

are stepping into a secret world that we have to relax

enough to enter. Then there is the words themselves. The

beauty and rhythm of language has the ability to calm and

relax us.

3. Stress relief

Taking your mind off your own problems, even for a few

minutes, can have a therapeutic effect and be a timely

circuit breaker. This is so effective that the National

Health System in the United Kingdom has introduced a

Reading and You Scheme. The scheme encourages mental

health patients to read more as part of their therapy for

reducing stress and overcoming anxiety, depression and

social isolation.

4. Stimulates the right side of your brain

Reading opens your mind to new possibilities. It stretches

your imagination in new and wonderful directions and takes

your mind on a wonderful journey through others'lives.

What would you do if you were Jo Becker in While I Was

Gone by Sue Miller? Would you tell your husband and three

daughters about a grisly crime that happened when you were

a university student? Or would you try to pretend it never

happened?

5. Entertaining

Fiction is capable of provoking many and varied emotional

responses ¨C it can make you laugh out loud, it can make

tears spill onto the page, it can be edge-of-the seat

terrifying, it can make you blush with embarrassment, it

can challenge your core beliefs. There is a world of

emotion in every story and you as the reader get to be part

of it.

6. Enjoyable

Reading is a deeply satisfying pursuit. The expression

curling up with a book evokes a warm and cosy image and

feels luxurious if you don't get to do it often.

7. Rejuvenating

Reading is an easy and quick way to nourish your soul

because it is for the most part a solitary pursuit. And

being alone, or at least alone in your thoughts, on a

regular basis is crucial to maintaining a sense of self.

As I'm sure you know, it's easier to give to others when

you feel fulfilled and your needs are met. Even just a few

minutes of reading can keep you going throughout the day.

Of course, you know you've read something special when you

find your thoughts continually re-visiting it.

Reading is like exercising ¨C mental and physical benefits

flow from a regular routine.

So don't feel guilty about taking time out to read. Its

good for you!