Eight Dimensions of Wellness: Reading for Pleasure
Sophia Bruno, a second-year student in the College of Pharmacy, contributed the following article as one of the educational initiatives sponsored by the NEOMED’s Student Wellness Committee as part of their peer-support series on the eight dimensions of wellness. The eight dimensions that this student-and-staff committee supports are emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual wellness.
The concept of eight dimensions of wellness comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a U.S. government agency.
When was the last time you read a book, not a textbook, but a book that you were actually interested in? Was it in that high school English class where you had to read The Old Man and the Sea (aka my least favorite book ever). I know that probably left a bad taste in your mouth, but since the semester is over that means you're going to have a lot more free time, right? Why not give reading another try?
If the idea of picking up a book doesn’t seem too appealing right now, let me try to convince you. Reading can strengthen your brain! The activity enhances your neural networks by making them larger and stronger. Thirty minutes of reading can also provide the same amount of stress relief as a thirty-minute yoga session. My favorite part is that reading before bed can help you fall asleep faster and promote more restful sleep. Who doesn’t want that? Those are just a few of the benefits of reading, but if you’re curious, go find out for yourself!
Let’s just say I’ve managed to convince you to pick up a paperback. Your next question might be: what should I read? The simple answer is … whatever you want! However, I know that's not the best answer since there are just so many different books out there. So, here’s a brief list of some of the most popular books people are reading now:
Nonfiction
Spare by Prince Harry – A memoir from the second son of King Charles.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy – A memoir from the iCarly and Sam & Cat star about her struggles as a former child actor.
Fiction
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai – A murder mystery set in a New England boarding school.
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey – A debut novel about one woman’s messy search for joy and meaning in the wake of an unexpected breakup.
Happy Place by Emily Henry – The “perfect couple” broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (My personal favorite) – A retelling of the Illiad.
Also, in case you missed it, a “Little Library” is now here at NEOMED! I reached out to former staff member Marina Charlson, the creator of the idea, to get her inspiration for starting the collection.
“I decided to start this project as the program coordinator within the department. It was inspired by my personal experience - growing up I was an avid reader. As I grew older, I had become "too busy" and lost touch with reading as a hobby. However last summer I decided to give books a chance again, as I wanted to reduce my screen time. I began to use Goodreads to track my books read and take part in their fun reading challenges that motivated me. The rest was history and I fell in love with reading once again. I was reminded of how books offer new knowledge, perspective and an escape from the stress of our everyday lives. I wanted to share this and give students and staff at NEOMED the opportunity to feel the same. Although our local libraries are also a wonderful, free and underappreciated resource, I intended our Little Library to act as a stepping stone and encouragement. Everyone is welcome to check out our newly stocked chest (A200) and encouraged to donate a used book of their own.”
Stop by and check it out! This could be a good place to start your new reading journey with a free book. Happy reading!