Page 30 - FWG Issue 1 February 2025

Lifestyle

Digital Media turned us all into Dopamine
Addicts, says that our smartphones are
making us dopamine junkies, with each
swipe, tweet and the like feeding our habit.
We’re forever ‘interrupting ourselves for a
quick digital hit’.

Opting for a magazine or paper book over
digital content can help mitigate digital
overload, much like avoiding sugar or
alcohol can curb unhealthy cravings.

Tips to get you reading more paper
books
Read at regular intervals: Carve out 10
minutes each day to read a magazine,
newspaper or novel. You can even read
while enjoying breakfast or lunch, or treat
yourself to coffee and cake with a book as
your date!
If you’re a new reader, opt for bite-size
reading: Large, hardback books can be
daunting, so opt for short, ‘snackable’
ones. It’s a great way to feel a sense of
accomplishment when you finish them.
Discover the pleasure of your favourite
topic: Most people have a favourite meal
or treat, so find out what type of reading
material brings you the most pleasure. It
might be fiction in the form of romance,
comedy or suspenseful thrillers, or non-
fiction on a range of topics.
Keep ‘reading snacks’ in your car,
handbag or laptop bag: While waiting in
a queue, doctors’ rooms or sitting in the
car, most of us will reach for our mobile
phones and scroll mindlessly through
social media platforms. Instead, make sure
you have a book or magazine on hand to
while away the time and feed your mind.
Include variety if you’re already a big
reader: If you love fiction, challenge
yourself to give non-fiction a try. You
might find that topics of a different nature
create a more balanced intellectual
‘diet’. Similarly, if you prefer reading in a
digital format, which offers convenience
and accessibility, add a paper book
once in a while to offer a well-rounded
counterbalance.
Bring and share: Just like we bring a plate
of eats to a social gathering, take along a
book that you think a friend may enjoy.
You can also donate books to a charity
shop or second-hand bookstore.

Jane Moloney concludes: “From my own
experience, I find that paper books truly
nourish my mind. They help me relax,
disconnect and escape into another world.
In an ‘always on’ world, books remain my
healthiest choice.”

Fourways Gardens • 28 • February 2025