As Tucson begins to warm up, a common sight to see around campus is people sitting on the grass, pavement or a bench with a book in hand. For some students, using reading as a mental break from the stress of life isn’t appealing but it’s found highly enjoyable by others because reading a good book is a great way to mentally relax in a stimulating way.  

Jonah Wachs, a physiology major at The University of Arizona, expressed what reading meant to him.

“Reading is a great way for me to relax, and it educates you and keeps your brain active and your mind healthy. It’s just a good habit to get into. My favorite place to read on campus is in my dorm. I find my dorm very easy for me to focus by myself, and for me to kind of gather my thoughts,” Wachs said.

While some students enjoy a more quiet and secluded area to read, others like Sam Hemstreet, a freshman at the UA, think otherwise.

“I love to read anywhere outside. Specifically somewhere a bit shady and in the grass,” Hemstreet said.

Hemstreet also expressed her relationship with reading as a college student.

“For the most part reading is a part of my daily routine. Although with a busy schedule it can tend to get pushed to the bottom of the list of things to do. It overall helps me relax and take a break from whatever is going on in my life. It also aids in expanding your own writing technique and imagination,” Hemstreet said.

The location of where you decide to read is a personal choice. However, once you discover your place it can become a part of your daily routine.

Freshman student at the UA, Kate Egan, expressed how she incorporated reading into her daily routine

“I read before bed. I would say it both calms my mind and stimulates it. I’m able to relax and read a book but it stimulates it for sure because if I get really into a book then I literally immerse myself into the book. I try to read before bed even if it’s just 20 minutes,” Egan said.

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The chaos of your class schedule can make it seem like having time to read for pleasure is impossible or you may just think you’ll never be able to ‘get into’ a good book. However, with the right recommendations and tips, anybody can become a reader.

Wachs explains his tips on how to get into reading.

“I’d say to try and find some area you’re interested in. Then find a book in that field. I think once you get going, and find a topic, field, or genre you’re interested in, once you start reading it’ll take care of itself. You’re going to enjoy it a lot more if it’s something you’re truly interested in,” Wachs said.

Finding a genre you appreciate at the beginning of your reading journey can be difficult.

“Get recommendations. Ask friends or family members that enjoy reading and I’m sure they’ll have a great book to pick up. They’ll most likely recommend one that you’ll also love which will make the process of finding one so much easier,” Hemstreet said.

Another great way to get assistance with recommendations and keeping track of books is an app called Goodreads. Egan explains how this app has helped her.

“I’m able to track the books I read, am currently reading, and want to read. It really helps you navigate the book world or figure out your genres. And then based on the previous book you’ve read, you can enter them into the Goodreads app and it’ll start to curate suggestions for you,” Egan said.

Goodreads also provides readers chapter previews so you are able to see what the book is about along with the average rating from everyone on Goodreads who’s read it.

Reading is similar to riding a bike – you’ll never forget how to do it.  

“You just kind of become a bookworm I guess,” Egan said.

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