Page 13 - IFV Issue 11 December 2024

Estate News

Books help to digitally detox
Addiction expert Dr Anna Lembke, in her article
entitled Constant Craving: How Digital Media
turned us all into Dopamine Addicts, says that our
smartphones are making us dopamine junkies, with
each swipe, tweet and 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 ten 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.”

The Villager • Issue 11 2024 • 11