As smartphones and other technology advances, and social media gets more popular, people stray further and further from reading, especially paperback or hardback books. Although it’s challenging to find a good book, getting back into reading can have great benefits mentally and physically. 

The first, and probably the most important, step to reading is to get a good book that interests you. Once you find that book, the rest of the steps fall into place. However, it can be a timely task, whether you like to read on a phone, tablet, or Kindle, or go into a bookstore and peruse the aisles. When looking, especially in bookstores or libraries, look at the genres first, it will narrow down the options and maybe make it easier. Once you find the genre, feel free to judge a book by its cover, it’s not the only option, but some books stick out because of their cover. Additionally, most books have a summary on the back that tells a bit about the book without spoiling it. When you find a book or a few, you should read the back of them to know which one you’ll like the best. 

Once you’ve found that book, it’s time to read it. Though, especially with smartphones these days. It can be hard to focus on the book. Whether you’re reading a paperback or hardcover book or an e-book on your phone, turning on the “Do Not Disturb” feature can help block out notifications that can distract you from the book. Once you start reading, give it a few pages before you go to social media, since when ‘doom-scrolling’ it’s easier to get the dopamine boost since the videos are about 30 seconds. However, with a book, it would take about 5 minutes to get to the point where it feels enjoyable. 

By reading, especially paper or hardcover books, you can escape to different worlds, learn subjects like astrophysics, or learn more about history around the United States or the world.