In today’s age, we find our days passing by as blurs. A major chunk of our time is spent in front of a screen. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube – these have become more familiar to us than Nancy Drew, Archie, Harry Potter and other books of our childhood. Various studies around the globe suggest the same – we are more invested and engrossed in social media, that reading a book.
Think of the last time you read a book – paid 100% of your attention to, were completely engrossed in it, and had full focus on all the characters and the meandering plot. You come out of it refreshed, and having learned something new. Books can be a source of education, rejuvenation, reconnecting to our roots, and rediscovering ourselves. It’s a break for the mind, and a reprieve from the distractions of the world.
Social media, on the other hand, is nothing but a temporary escape from life. Its magnetic pull lulls us away from things-to-do and responsibilities. However, rather than giving our minds a break and refreshing us, we end up feeling exhausted, and in some cases, discouraged. Subconsciously, we compare our achievements with others. We juxtapose our life against that of another, and end up feeling disheartened by what we lack.
Undoubtedly, social media is a great way to connect with others, and stay in touch with those who matter. However, we ought to have control over the time spent on it. When you are tired or need a quick break, it is much easier to grab our phones and spend a few minutes online. But think, does it truly and completely give you that break you need?
Doomscrolling, or the habit of endlessly scrolling through the social media feed, can keep one engrossed forever. We open an app for five minutes, and can spend hours on it, staring at memes or some influencer’s feed. Books, on the other hand, come with numbered pages, and a definite starting and end point. We get to have control over out time, and end up managing it effectively.
To sum up, the social media has a strong pull, but nothing can beat the joy one gets while reading a book. Try it out, and see the difference it makes in your life.
For a list f recommended reading, you can check out what inspires me.
Coffee and Soul 