Have you ever noticed that, more often than not, you can find students around Leyden reading a textbook or a required book rather than something they picked up themselves? With many classes, some of them AP or Honors, and different sports or extracurriculars on top of that, it may not be that students don’t want to read for fun – it’s just that they don’t have time.

As a self-proclaimed “book lover” myself, I find it embarrassing when I end up having to tell teachers or friends that in truth, I have not been reading anything for fun. It’s not because I don’t want to or because I’d rather spend time on my phone, but simply because between all the homework, textbook reading, and club meetings, I just don’t have time to unwind and really concentrate on a new book. It doesn’t seem like I’m the only one, either; in 2024 the peer-reviewed academic journal Literacy found that “nonnegotiable” activities such as “after-school clubs, schoolwork, and chores” led adolescents to have less time for leisure reading than when they were younger (Webber et al., 2024).

Furthermore, it’s hard for anyone to find leisure time when it is increasingly thought of as unproductive or wasteful. People are increasingly ignoring the benefits of leisure time in favor of “getting stuff done,” and although this may seem productive, it does not help our mental health. In fact, according to an article by the BBC, this kind of mindset is associated with “lower reported happiness and greater reported depression, anxiety, and stress” (Imtiaz, 2021).

However, there’s not much of a possibility that we as students will get less homework over time, and most of us participate in sports or clubs because it connects to one of our other interests or hobbies. So, what can we do to read more for fun, or even do other leisure activities, like going on walks or bingeing a new show, without feeling guilty or making leisure feel like a chore? 

Some of these suggestions might help:

Get yourself excited about your leisure activity in advance – When it comes to books, maybe this means researching what books you want to read next. Doing this can help you get re-motivated to find time to read for fun, and also makes it easier to get started once you do decide to read. 

Place leisure time before work – While this may seem counterintuitive, sometimes reading or watching a show before starting your homework can ensure you actually progress with your leisure activities. If you do homework first, it might drag on, and you may be too tired to even think about reading once you’re done. Although, when you place leisure time before homework, make sure it is timed or split up somehow (e.g. reading only one chapter a day or watching only 30 minutes of a show or movie) so that you don’t slack off on your responsibilities.

Make leisure a goal in itself – If you’re still struggling to shake off the guilt of doing nothing, consider thinking of leisure activities as a goal themselves. For example, choosing to go on a walk rather than getting ahead on work helps your mental and physical health. Similarly, Selin A. Malkoc, associate professor at Ohio State University, says that aligning leisure time with other goals may make us feel less guilty, such as parents reminding themselves that a vacation to Disneyland will build a core memory for their kids, thus allowing them to relax. 

Don’t blame yourself – Sometimes, the worst part of not reading for fun is that we blame ourselves for it and tell ourselves to try harder or even force ourselves to read something in one sitting due to lack of time. However, this doesn’t help us. Instead, read when you have the time and when you want to. If someone asks what you’ve been reading for fun, and you haven’t been reading anything, be honest. Above all, leisure should remain leisure, and not just another task that needs to be checked off. If you never get to it, it’s okay. Focus on the little moments in between tasks that bring you happiness.

QUIZ – WHAT KIND OF READER ARE YOU?

Every answer of “yes” is worth one point. After answering all the questions, add up your points!

1. Have you ever read a book for leisure in class?
2. Have you ever read a book while there is a big argument or loud conversation going on around you?
3. Have you ever borrowed from or contributed to a lending library?
4. Have you ever read an entire book in one sitting or one day?
5. Have you ever read a book because a friend recommended it to you?
6. Have you ever been in the middle of reading two or more books at the same time?
7. Have you ever read a book while on a trip or vacation?
8. Have you ever wished you had more time to read?

RESULTS:

0-2: Mild reader – you may not have as much experience with reading, but that doesn’t mean you don’t like it!
3-4: Up-and-coming avid reader: you read a lot, but make sure to place it in moderation with the rest of your life.
5-6: Avid reader: you might read more than most or are more of an adventurous reader. Keep it up!

7-8: Extreme reader: Wow! You will take advantage of any moment possible to read. Your dedication is inspiring.