Let’s Talk Bookish: Reading and Mental Health

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Book Nook Bits has hosted since April 2022.

August 4th: Reading and Mental Health 
(Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: How does reading impact your mental health? If you’re feeling sad, do you read certain types of books, or reread old favorites? If you don’t read for a while, do you notice that impacting your overall well being? Do you ever take reading breaks?

I think what I’m reading at any given time can absolutely impact my mental health. I’m usually pretty good at judging my moods though and steering away from something that might make my MH feel worse, but sometimes you just don’t realise how difficult something might be. I was well aware, for example, that Not That Bad might have an impact, so I limited myself to only reading two of the essays at a time (one if it was particularly difficult to get through), and if I was starting to feel any effects, to make sure I read something else for a bit.

What I’ve also been doing is seeking out ‘lighter’ books to read around/between. When I can feel my mood dipping, I do tend to reach for particular books, though it depends on what is making me feel how I feel. It might be I grab a Romance to read next, or occasionally maybe I’ll want to explore whatever it is and dive into some Horror. I do find, however, YA is sometimes pretty good for lifting my spirits – usually Romance, sometimes Fantasy, depending on the type of Fantasy it is.

I tend to read pretty regularly and constantly, so not reading doesn’t tend to have an impact because I usually am reading. I think when I do notice an impact is when I read a lot of similar stuff. I went through a point where I read a lot of horror consistently, but now I try to make sure I switch genres fairly regularly. And no, I don’t take reading breaks. I honestly love reading, and I love reading a variety of things, and I always make sure I have a book to hand.