{"id":34285,"date":"2024-06-27T07:00:34","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T07:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=34285"},"modified":"2025-07-08T16:19:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T16:19:00","slug":"could-reading-be-your-stress-reliever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/could-reading-be-your-stress-reliever\/","title":{"rendered":"Could reading be your stress reliever?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether it\u2019s because of a busy schedule, feeling overwhelmed at work or the stress of everyday life, everyone\u2019s looking for ways to relax these days.<\/p>\n

Have you considered reading?<\/p>\n

Even in small doses, reading is shown to reduce stress, improve sleep and build empathy, explains Andrea Ball, MLS, MultiCare\u2019s research and education librarian.<\/p>\n

One possible explanation for such benefits could be reading\u2019s meditative qualities, adds Kira Hamer, MultiCare lead employee wellness partner.<\/p>\n

When reading, you\u2019re focusing on a task, which allows your other thoughts to take a backseat. Once you get through the initial difficulty of sitting down and shifting into that mindset, reading can be a calming experience.<\/p>\n

So, what can reading do for you?<\/p>\n

A moment of calm<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Regardless of the genre or style you prefer, sometimes simply escaping life through a book can help you have a moment of calm, Hamer says. If you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed and need a laugh, you\u2019re worried and looking for a distraction, or you\u2019re in need of inspiration to cope with anxiety, there\u2019s something for everyone.<\/p>\n

When stressed, you may feel pressure to fix or address everything as fast as possible. As an employee wellness leader in the high-stress field of health care, Hamer often has to remind staff they need time to recharge.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the classic story of a nurse working a long shift, commuting and then being hit with the stress of managing their home and social life, he explains. The question he poses to them: \u201cIs anything bad going to happen if you take 15 minutes for yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sitting down with a glass of water in a quiet room to catch up on your favorite magazine is one way to create a calmer and smoother transition from work to home. It can also be a helpful tool to wind down your day.<\/p>\n

Reading before bed is one way Hamer calms down from the high excitement of the day and fall asleep easier.<\/p>\n

You must give yourself the freedom and permission to relax, he adds.<\/p>\n

Mental reset<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In high-pressure work environments or highly rigorous academic fields, the calm that reading brings could also be beneficial to your performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll often find recreational reading collections in academic libraries,\u201d says librarian Ball. \u201cQuite a few studies show that students say having those books there and reading even just a chapter has been beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving your academic or high-stress mindset a rest allows your brain to simmer in what you\u2019ve learned or experienced, she explains. Plus, engaging with different styles of writing and genres can encourage critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n

Ball has been an avid reader all her life, but in her everyday work \u2014 digging through journal literature to answer provider questions \u2014 she finds that taking an occasional \u201clight\u201d reading break during her workday is beneficial.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m reading on a computer all day long and analyzing the literature \u2026 it\u2019s very intensive and it takes a lot of mental energy,\u201d she says. \u201cIf I go from one search to another and another, I get less efficient and I lose my focus. I often use a 15-minute \u2018just for fun\u2019 reading break to parse out that work.\u201d<\/p>\n

That break allows her to come back with a clean slate and focus on the next subject, Ball says. The approach could also be applied to any kind of mentally intensive or redundant work that so easily taxes our brains.<\/p>\n

Education and empathy<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Of course, reading is a foundation for learning, but it\u2019s also been shown to improve empathy \u2014 a critical skill in today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n

\u201cReading is one way to investigate and learn about people who are different than yourself \u2014 different ages, races, genders, cultures and so on,\u201d Ball explains. \u201cBut it\u2019s also a private way to do it and feels easier and safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to read scientific journals to gain that deeper understanding, though. Reading anything, whether fiction or nonfiction, can provide a new perspective. With that new lens, you can gain a better understanding of the stressful headlines you read in the news or scary scenarios you see others in.<\/p>\n

Reading comes in many different forms, but each can teach you something, Ball says. And maybe if you\u2019re like Ball, just knowing the information is out there and other people are asking the same questions and sharing their stories can help put your mind at ease when stress arises.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to pick up something new,\u201d Hamer adds. \u201cMaybe you just haven\u2019t found the right one for you, yet.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether it\u2019s because of a busy schedule, feeling overwhelmed at work or the stress of everyday life, everyone\u2019s looking for ways to relax these days. Have you considered reading? Even in small doses, reading is shown to reduce stress, improve sleep and build empathy, explains Andrea Ball, MLS, MultiCare\u2019s research and education librarian. One possible […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":115,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,127],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behavioral-health","category-healthy-living"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCould reading be your stress reliever?- MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Even in small doses, reading is shown to reduce stress, improve sleep and build empathy. 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