Page 31 - Kyalami Issue 4 December 2024

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
BOOKS MATTER

n this digital age where screens devices can add up over time.
dominate daily life, the idea
of reading a physical book, BOOKS HELP TO DIGITALLY
magazine or newspaper may DETOX
seem old-fashioned. The Paper
IManufacturers Association of Addiction expert Dr Anna Lembke, in her
South Africa (PAMSA) suggests that article entitled Constant Craving: How
reading paper-based material can be Digital Media turned us all into Dopamine
compared to maintaining a healthy diet. Addicts, says that our smartphones are
making us dopamine junkies, with each
Jane Maloney, executive director of swipe, tweet and like feeding our habit.
PAMSA, says that just as a balanced We’re forever ‘interrupting ourselves for a
diet is vital for our physical health, quick digital hit’.
so print and paper provide benefits
that nourish the mind in ways that Opting for a magazine or paper book over
digital formats can’t. “Reading paper digital content can help mitigate digital
books feeds the mind through a more overload, much like avoiding sugar or
captivating experience, where readers alcohol can curb unhealthy cravings.
can absorb ideas and develop a deeper TIPS TO GET YOU READING MORE
understanding of the material,” she PAPER BOOKS
explains.
Read at regular intervals: Carve out ten
Digital platforms are notorious for their minutes each day to read a magazine,
distractions such as adverts, hyperlinks newspaper or novel. You can even read
and notifications that draw our focus away while enjoying breakfast or lunch, or treat
from the core content. In contrast, paper yourself to coffee and cake with a book as
books provide an uninterrupted reading your date!
experience, allowing for deep engagement
with the content. People benefit from If you’re a new reader, opt for bite-size
the more deliberate pace of reading reading: Large, hardback books can be
paper-based material, which enhances daunting, so opt for short, ‘snackable’
the understanding and retention of ones. It’s a great way to feel a sense of
information. This is attributed to reduced accomplishment when you finish them.
distractions and the physicality of paper,
which enhances spatial awareness and Discover the pleasure of your favourite
allows for pen-to-paper annotations. An topic: Most people have a favourite meal
article in Psychology Today entitled The or treat, so find out what type of reading
Case for Paper: Books vs E-Readers, material brings you the most pleasure. It
states that turning pages in a book might be fiction in the form of romance,
creates an ‘index’ in the brain, mapping comedy or suspenseful thrillers, or non-
what we read visually to a particular page. fiction on a range of topics.

Just as consistent, healthy eating is Keep ‘reading snacks’ in your car,
key to physical well-being, regularly handbag or laptop bag: While waiting in
reading paper books cultivates strong a queue, doctors’ rooms or sitting in the
mental habits such as concentration, car, most of us will reach for our mobile
memory and critical thinking. Eating phones and scroll mindlessly through
isn’t just about nourishment; it’s also social media platforms. Instead, make
about savouring taste, texture and smell. sure you have a book or magazine on
Reading paper books appeals to our hand to while away the time and feed your
senses in a way that digital books fail mind.
to do. It has something to do with the
sensation of running our hands over a Include variety if you’re already a big
beautifully illustrated or embossed cover, reader: If you love fiction, challenge
or leafing through the pages. There is also yourself to give non-fiction a try. You
the appealing smell of a new novel, or might find that topics of a different nature
even yellowed ageing parchment. create a more balanced intellectual ‘diet’.
Similarly, if you prefer reading in a digital
PAPER BOOKS ARE AN format, which
‘ORGANIC’ CHOICE
offers convenience and accessibility, add
Paper books store carbon and since a paper book once in a while to offer a
paper is derived from wood, it acts as a well-rounded counterbalance.
carbon sink, storing the carbon dioxide
absorbed by trees during their growth. Bring and share: Just like we bring a plate
This sustainable cycle continues as of eats to a social gathering, take along
harvested trees are replaced with new a book that you think a friend may enjoy.
saplings, ensuring that wood and paper You can also donate books to a charity
remain renewable resources. shop or second-hand bookstore.
Digital devices are often considered ‘eco- Jane Moloney concludes: “From my own
friendly’, however e-readers and tablets experience, I find that paper books truly
require significant resources to produce, nourish my mind. They help me relax,
and irresponsible disposal contributes disconnect and escape into another
to electronic waste. Additionally, the world. In an ‘always on’ world, books
energy used to power and recharge digital remain my healthiest choice.”

DPL issue 9 2022 13 29
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 4 • 2024