I love to read, don’t you? Books are like a constant companion who can entertain you anytime, anywhere! They just transport you into a different world where your imagination takes the lead. But, something I have wondered is… does reading really affect our brain or is it just mind-numbing nonsense? Well, I have your answers.
Bibliotherapy is one of my new favourite words, let me tell you why. In today’s world, so many people are dealing with mental health which sometimes people aren’t even aware of. Bibliotherapy uses the magic of books. While reading certain books, someone suffering from mental health can find people in books who they may not see in real life who are going through situations similar to theirs and see how they cope with it. Books in the same way may also act as a guide for how to deal with situations. Last but not least, bibliotherapy helps readers to develop self-awareness and problem-solving skills.
Let’s get out of the mental world and now focus on how reading can help our bodies. Studies by Mental Health First Aid, England show that when people read, their stress levels are reduced by 60% since heart rate and muscle tension are at ease and their state of mind is calmer. Nuvance Health, New York says that reading can also lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality. (No wonder people love to read before they sleep, I do too!)
An MRI test done in 2018 states that when a brain scan was taken of people who began to read for 2-3 weeks, their brain connectivities improved immensely, especially in the area which is responsible for touch, sense and pain (Somatosensory Cortex).
Reading helps social interaction and the feeling that there are people in this world like you. It can help deal with depression and anxiety. It also gives us a more holistic sense of our world. Hope and optimism can also be fostered while reading.
Wow! I knew reading wasn’t useless, but I didn’t know that it was this useful too. I may be protecting myself from so many mental health issues by just reading Percy Jackson every night! Well, my point is now proven! Whenever anybody tells me to stop reading now, I’ll have the perfect comeback and you would too!
-By Zoe Akhtar, 7A
Ekya School, JP Nagar
Talk about the mischiefs of adolescence, they used to top the category with the best of creativity. Talk about a kid, restless and being found with a football in hand in the playground, I feared it was my 10B. Or let's say, certain kids have gone down to the CC Coordinator to plead for a PE period and there is a noise in the compound regarding the same, who else would have thought of risking their impressions and be as crystal clear as water when it comes to intent, I somehow knew it could be these bunch of un-putdownable dreamers, fearing they have failed their Captain, 'cause, they knew a Captain is as good as his class.
Not even a single day I reckon when I and my students had failed to be on the same page. And on days as good as grit, we made sure we argued staying honest to ourselves. From discussing Sir Robin Williams to the background score of Dunkirk, it has been a journey of an engaging perspective, a journey that made me more patient as an observer, a journey that made me realise the subtle difference between "teaching" and "facilitating".
And, since the Board Examination is on the cards, here's wishing hope & courage to my thirty-one brilliant dreamers (& others as well) for the new experience and before the curtain falls have a close look at your mark sheet-s, let's do our usual Ice-Breaker,
"O Captain! My Captain!"
Remember to not forget.
Remember the claps have just begun.
Do you ever have the feeling that sometimes your thoughts are racing inside your head so fast that it is hard to keep up and calm yourself?
Now, I have heard people talk about different things that they pursue to calm their minds - meditation, taking a nap, being creative, cooking, baking, fixing something, going out for a walk, journaling and even talking to someone. Each one to their own, but two things that work wonders for me while I’m stressed are Art and Journaling.
Having said that, art, while an effective tool to calm your thoughts, may not help in expressing your feelings in their entirety. Some feelings may remain unsaid or unaddressed. After all, colours cannot convey what words can express.
On the other hand, journaling is hard when you haven’t had time to understand and break down your feelings and thoughts. Writing at the same pace as your perturbed mind is truly an uphill task. I guess that’s why most of us stop journaling after a while.
For the past few years, I have been trying a different method of expressing my inner turmoil - through art and journaling on the same piece of paper or, in short, Art-Journaling. When I’m stressed I turn to art for comfort. Add a little music, and a cup of tea and the scene is set for some deep retrospection. While the pencil does its magic, my mind can untangle and dissect the problem at hand. Soon, solutions are found or the whole stress trigger becomes a non-issue. Either way, I get time to contemplate and jot down an abridged version of the tornado happening in my mind. The musings are written right next to the artwork to serve as a memory. I can revisit this art journal later too. Sometimes, just browsing through my art journal is enough to give me perspective as well.
In addition to addressing my sanity, this form of creativity helps me build memories of things that bring me joy! For instance, I have drawings of the cute things that my little one has said over the years and going through them, I can relive and cherish those moments to date.
It is not just me: Wildlife enthusiasts often keep a notebook handy to sketch and pen down their findings and thoughts they have on leaves, trees, birds, animals etc. These are nature journals.
Artists travel with their colours to capture memories in the form of art instead of just photos. During the pandemic, a lot of people got a chance to observe and art-journal the mannerisms of their loved ones.
People have their version of journals like scrapbooks, food journals, travel journals, book review journals (I would love to do that too!) and so on. One of my favourite recipe books is by a friend who has shared in her book the memories associated with each of her recipes.
From serious thoughts to hilarious memories, I owe whatever clarity I have in life to art journaling and of course to music and chai! So, which form of journaling would you like to take up to enhance your experience of life?
Anjana Krishnamurthy English Educator - Primary School
Leave a reply