What if a book lover was president? What might that look like for the US?

Everyone Would Get Subsidies to Take Time Off to Write a Novel

What does a book lover want, more than anything? More books to read. So why would we continue to make it so hard to craft new books? Writers need time to let their ideas flow, time to plan, and, most of all, to write.

So a big reader as president, surely, would do everything they could to make that easier. Which could look like giving writing subsidies to help people take time away from work to finalize their art.

Books Would Be Tax Deductible

When we’re doing our taxes and finances, there are a number of important, essential purchases that we can not include in our taxes — tax deductibles.

In our opinion, books are just as important as student loan interest or putting money in an IRA. So they should absolutely be tax deductible.

There’d Be a Story Hour at Every Boring Office

There’s nothing worse than a truly mind-numbing job, and there’s truly no better way to escape that reality than through a brilliant story. We think it’d be great for company and team morale to offer a story hour or reading hour at every office, especially those with very dull, tedious, and repetitive responsibilities.

Reading to the Elderly and the Young Would Be a Well-Paid Gig

Looking after the vulnerable should always be a well-paid job. Whether that’s our youngest members of the community or the oldest, it should be suitably reimbursed.

But to take that a step further, it should also include looking after their minds. Reading has been linked in all sorts of studies to creativity, learning, and mental improvement, so why not read to and with our oldest and youngest?

Everyone in the Country Would Get a Book Subsidy

There are lots of charities set up across the country to help ensure that every family can access books for their kids and themselves. This shouldn’t have to be the case, and we think a bookish president would know that.

We reckon they’d be able to give families a subsidy to spend on books to further educate our citizens across the country. Since this money would be going back into the economy, it would be even more beneficial there, too! Keeping bookstores going and people reading!

National Reading Day Would Be a Federal Holiday

National Reading Day takes place on March 2nd, Dr Seuss’s birthday. It is celebrated by readers and book lovers alike up and down the country. But, if we were to have a bookish president, we might just be able to promote the celebration to the federal level!

Imagine, a federal holiday, all about books and reading. A day off work to cozy up with a book? Perfect!

There Would Be a National Story Hour Broadcast Across The Country

In the UK, there’s a children’s show called Cbeebies Bedtime Stories, and they get celebrities to go on and read a bedtime story. With the number of big names in the states, surely we could get our own version of this up and running?

Just picture it: Morgan Freeman is reading you a story for an hour after work, and the whole family is snuggled up on the couch for it.

There’d Be More Parks, Cozy Spaces and Quiet Places to Read

Sure, we have National Parks, but with a bookish President, more effort could be made to prioritize these spaces. Promoting the use of National Parks and allowing for more quiet, cozy spaces to be created in cities across the country would provide ample chances for people to sit down somewhere new with a good book.

A National Literary Museum Would Be Established

We’ve got hundreds of museums. And we’ve had hundreds, if not more, writers and best-selling books. So why don’t we have a national literary museum?

It could have displayed on the great American writers, manuscripts from early texts as and when we can find them. Readers meetings, writers workshops, book launches — it’d be a brilliant space for the bookish community.

We’d like to think this would be on the list of announcements of a bookish president.

Every Beach Would Have a Boardwalk Bookstore

There’s something special about sitting at the beach with a book. But sometimes, you finish the book you’ve got with you, or you forget to take one altogether. In those moments, what do you do?

Well, if there were a bookstore on every beach boardwalk, the problem would be solved. A cute little bookstore, perfect for meet-cutes, with a great range of titles… We can only dream!

Ending Illiteracy and Education Would Be a National Priority

If you ask us, this should be a priority regardless of whether the president is a book lover or not. Our country’s literacy levels should always be something we’re looking to increase, both at a community level and on a much larger scale.

Education and literacy are vital. They help us to communicate, they help us to succeed in the world. The more we work on that, the better.

Bookstores and Libraries Would Be Open 24/7

We’ve all finished a book at 2 or 3 am, laying in bed, adrenaline coursing through our veins. But what next? What if you’ve not got hundreds of books waiting on your tbr?

If bookstores and libraries were open 24/7, you’d simply take a late-night stroll to your nearest late-night bookstore, and voila! Your next fix, right there.

The post What If We Had a Book-Loving President… appeared first on Magazine.

The point is that readers are everywhere. Personally, we think this is a great thing, but it does bring one question to the forefront: why do some people love reading while others hate it? One major factor is the household one is born into and the culture of reading that parents create within it. Let’s talk about it.

Define Reading

Okay, sure, we know that reading is the action or skill of reading written or printed matter silently or aloud, but when it comes to surveys, it’s important to separate whether participants are reading for fun or reading because they have to like for school or work. In 2017, about 53% of American adults read at least one book not for school or work in the last 12 months according to the National Endowment for the Arts.

Just five years earlier, the NEA had been a little more detailed with their survey and found that 23% of American adults were “light” readers who said they finished one to five titles per year, with 10% being moderate readers finishing six to 11 titles, 13% said they were frequent readers finishing 12 – 49 titles, and last but not least 5% were considered avid readers finishing 50+ titles.

As sociologist Wendy Griswold added, “Every society has some group of people that read a lot in their leisure time,” referring to this group as “the reading class.” When Griswold compared the numbers, she found that about 20% of adults belong to the U.S.’s reading class when compared to the rates of serious reading in other similarly wealthy countries.

The Reading Class

While most of us probably want to be considered part of the reading class, some people are simply more likely than others to become members. In fact, as Griswold explains, there is a predictable pattern to be found. First, the more education someone has, the more likely they are to be a reader, and if we’re talking location, urban people tend to read more than rural people.

Bookish babes, this one is for you: because young girls are most likely to start reading earlier than boys, they are also more likely to continue to read more in adulthood. If you’re wondering if race matters when it comes to the reading class, the answer is yes. Data from the NEA indicates that 60% of white American adults reported reading a book in the last year outside of work or school, which was a higher rate than for African Americans (47%), Asians (45%), and Hispanic people (32%).

Introverts and the Presence of Books

Now, just because you possess any number of these characteristics doesn’t guarantee that you are or are not a reader. Why? We’re glad you asked. Your personality also plays a role! Daniel Willingham, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia dropped some truth that a lot of us may already know or have suspected, “introverts seem to be a little bit more likely to do a lot of leisure-time reading.”

Another important factor that researchers have identified is the number of books in one’s childhood home. Children who grow up surrounded by books tend to attain higher levels of education and become better readers than those who don’t. Now, while the mere presence of books is valuable, it’s not necessarily transformative on its own. A vital influence? Yes. And while no one can predict with certainty whether they’re raising avid readers, there are factors that can be controlled.

As Easy as 1, 2, 3

In Willingham’s book Raising Kids Who Read, he highlights three variables that heavily influence whether a person becomes a lifelong reader or not. One, a child needs to be able to smoothly transition from print on the page to words in the mind. Schools will help with this, but parents can also help by reading to and with their kids and letting them sound out words as they go. Two, a wide range of background knowledge of the world will help kids interpret things they come across in print, creating enthusiastic and curious learners.

The final component? Motivation. As a parent or caregiver, the best thing you can do to encourage readers is to have a positive attitude about it yourself. Willingham explains this perfectly by saying that reading should be presented as “chocolate cake” and not “spinach”.

What he means by this is that little eyes are always watching and taking in every last detail down to how we spend our free time. If you like to curl up on the couch with a book in the evening versus doom-scrolling or watching TV, kids are highly likely to take note. Modeling bookish behaviors by curling up with a good book any chance we get? Count us in.

How to Raise Readers

It’s important to note that even if you didn’t grow up an avid reader, you can still raise avid readers. Don’t focus too much on the later-in-life outcomes, but more on the value (and, dare we say, fun) of reading in the moment now. Here are a few ways you can share your love of books and reading with your kids:

• Talk about books during meals or car rides to show kids that books are a compelling topic
• Visit your local library and/or bookstores and take your time. How else are kids going to learn and appreciate how good books smell?
• Give books as birthday and other holiday gifts
• Fill your home with books that you and your family find interesting
• Perhaps most importantly, read to your kiddos and let them read to you

The post Why Do Humans Love Reading So Much? appeared first on Magazine.

The NCTE and What They Do

For more than 100 years the National Council of Teachers of English has worked to support teachers and their students in the classroom on college campuses, and in online learning environments by offering journals, publications, and resources to aid teachers in advocating, sharing lesson ideas, researching strategies and teaching strategies through it’s Annual Convention and other professional learning events.

Over 25,000 members are part of this incredible organization working to promote literacy, the use of language, and learning and teaching English and the related arts and sciences of language.

A Briefing on the Standing Committee Against Censorship

Okay, now that we know what the NCTE is all about, it’s important to understand the role the Standing Committee Against Censorship plays. The SCAC is a committee of the NCTE that works to raise awareness of censorship issues and as you may already know, there have been plenty of these kinds of issues. Responsibilities of the SCAC include:

• Receiving reports of censorship incidents
• Advising the NCTE on censorship issues
• Promoting policies for literature adoption
• Helping the NCTE develop rationales for teaching controversial texts
• Developing resources on censorship

Survey Says

In 2016, Joan Bertin with the NCAC and Millie Davis with NCTE conducted a survey of authors whose work had been defended recently. Bertin and Davis went into the survey with the following ideas:

• what books mean to kids doesn’t figure enough in defense of challenged to books
• that kids tell authors what books mean to them
• that “kid testimony” could become some of the best rationales for kids to read these books

The results of the survey not only proved them to be correct, but they found in general that kids told them:

• This book made me more empathetic, tolerant, and accepting, of myself and others. It helped me relate better to others and talk to them about things we never would have discussed otherwise.
• This book made me realize that I’m not the only one with problems; it helped me feel more normal and less alone.
• This book saved my life. It helped me confront a serious issue and deal with it.
• This book turned me on to reading. It was the first book I ever read all the way through.
• This book understood me the way no one else does. “I don’t know how I’d have gotten through adolescence without it.”
• This book inspired me to want to do something with my life.

And if these survey findings didn’t pull at your heartstrings enough, let’s talk about what was discussed at the author panel.

Why and How Books Save Lives

The author panel consisted of Matt de la Pena, Jason Reynolds, and Laurie Halse Anderson, and these three authors did what authors do best – moved everyone with their stories.

Matt de la Pena began with a simple reminder that books not only save the lives of readers but writers as well and because of this, there’s an obvious symbiosis between both readers and writers with respect for the reader making up a large part of that equation.

Matt’s book Mexican White Boy was removed from the Mexican-American studies program in Tuscon, Arizona schools after a judge declared the book violated student’s 1st and 4th Amendments.

After this, a student came to him for help because this book had meant a great deal to her. So Matt had to do what he knew in his heart to be right – send contraband copies to students whose copies had essentially been taken from right under their noses.

Jason Reynolds, author of All American Boys, went on to remind attendees of the “beauty of books to create a space for that ice to melt slowly.” He also told the story of a time he watched a friend get arrested for a crime he didn’t commit and was taken into custody basically for being black saying, “I wished I’d had a book to cry into.” Reynolds had some wonderful tips for white educators teaching books about Black youth:

• get a partner as he did in All American Boys.
• teach the book as a questioning.
• make sure your students know it’s okay to disagree, just not to disrespect.

Reynolds’s story, thoughts, feelings, and tips for educators are just a few of the many reasons why this committee and coalition are so important and necessary for the world of literature and those who teach it.

And finally, Laurie Halse Anderson finished the panel with a post-it note comment from a reader leaving attendees with a powerful message:

• comfort is the biggest privilege of all because if you’re comfortable, you don’t have to be afraid.
• until you can see yourself, you cannot be yourself.

5 YA Books to Boost Empathy

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the NCTE, follow this link for more information. We leave you with a few titles that have no doubt faced their fair share of challenges since being published but celebrate humanity in all forms, shapes, sizes, colors, and quirks creating a more empathetic and understanding world one book at a time. Friendly reminder, these titles are just as important for adults as they are for younger readers!

1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Coming-of-age autobiography by the great Maya Angelou illustrates the power of literature in a young girl’s life and how books were able to give her the strength to overcome the racism and trauma she experienced as a young girl.

2. No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe

Nigerian author Chinua Achebe illuminates the struggles of a young villager adapting to a Western lifestyle after leaving Nigeria for a British education and a job in the Nigerian colonial civil service.

3. Night by Elie Wiesel

A harrowing account of a teen’s experience in a Nazi concentration camp at the height o the Holocaust during WWII.

4. The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande

This memoir explores the author’s childhood in Mexico and the heartbreaking struggles of children who are left behind as their parents head north to seek a better life in the United States.

5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

A Pakistani man named Changez chats with a nervous American in a cafe in a post-9/11 world.

The post The Importance of Words and Ideas In The Modern World appeared first on Magazine.

The Times They Are A-Changing

David Sax, author of “The Revenge of Analog” and “The Future is Analog” noticed an interesting shift since smartphones, streaming services, and social media took over: the more we rely on digital technology for work, learning, and socializing, “the more we seek out analog alternatives as a balance or a different way of engaging with the world.” And while it may seem this trend is being driven by older generations who are nostalgic, it’s actually the younger generation who may have never even countered this technology in the first place at the forefront of the shifting trends.

What Are Analog Alternatives?

Analog practices have everything to do with opting for the less efficient way of doing something, especially something done for pleasure.

These alternatives allow people to reassess their relationship with time and kick the idea that we always have to be productive. But what activities are we talking about specifically? Here are a few of our personal favorites.

Vinyl Records

Vinyl records have been making a decade-long comeback, even surpassing CD sales for the first time since the 80s. If you’re a millennial, then you probably remember the sheer joy of downloading an entire album and then burning it onto a CD, while simultaneously accidentally downloading a number of viruses to the family computer, from there, streaming services were a welcome improvement.

But for many who may not have ever experienced physically holding their music, a vinyl record is extremely appealing, mostly due to its simplicity; you don’t have to worry about queuing up the next song or creating the perfect playlist, all you have to do is listen to the music.

Collections

We aren’t talking about high-dollar antiques or rare pieces of art, the joy of collecting can be found in bookmarks, postcards, dried flowers, matchbooks, or movie tickets. When it comes to starting a collection, it’s all about connecting a memory of past life to an object and then displaying those objects proudly.

Pens and Stationery

If you’re on TikTok, there’s a chance you’ve come across the platform focused on how to utilize planners, calendars, sticky notes, and pens, otherwise known as #stationeryaddict. People have discovered just how powerful pen and paper can be and they’re really letting their creativity flow and adding their personal touch to how they communicate.

Sending Letters and Postcards

Speaking of pens and stationery, when was the last time you mailed or received a letter or postcard? Compared to texts, phone calls, voice notes, Facetime, DMs, and snaps, letters, and postcards are in a word, simply more special to give and receive.

Film Cameras

Most of our smartphones are probably full of unused photos just taking up space, but when it comes to a disposable camera, you have a limited number of opportunities to capture the moment(s). Not only is there an element of suspense, but photos usually come out a little blurry, a bit dim, and perfectly retro. There’s something gratifying about dropping off the film, waiting for the photos to be developed, then flipping through the copies. The draw to film cameras lies in the simplicity of it all – there’s no app, no algorithm, and no reason to be online.

Print Books and Magazines

We saved the best for last – physical books and magazines. Nothing quite compares to the feeling of a book in your hand, dog-earring pages, folding back the cover of a worn paperback, seeing how far you’ve gotten in your book, and filling any (and all of) the bookshelves you have.

Magazines have also made a comeback in recent years which can be attributed to full-bleed photos, varied fonts, colorful illustrations, and the want to create mood boards. Creating mood boards using print magazines allows the experience to be totally immersive and all the more powerful.

The Bottom Line

Incorporating one or more of these analog activities may seem tedious or like a waste of time, but the truth is, they’re all part of the human experience and part of what makes life so interesting. Don’t get us wrong, hustle and productivity aren’t a waste of time, but make sure to do something tricky or “the hard way” every now and then. Think of it like this: in a world of electricity, why do we still light candles in our homes?

The post The Analog Lifestyle is Coming Back appeared first on Magazine.

The Process

In 2017, Rose Turner, a post-graduate researcher at Kingston University, gathered 123 participants for a series of questions all centered around their preferences for TV, play,s and books.

Alongside the entertainment survey, participants also answered interpersonal skill-related questions, including consideration of others’ feelings and willingness to help someone in need. The test was conducted anonymously and featured participants of diverse demographics.

The Findings

After the research concluded, Turner, under the supervision of Dr. Fatima Felisberti, found that avid readers were more likely to conduct themselves in a positive social manner than those who preferred television. The readers produced greater rates of awareness compared to their TV counterparts and showed higher signs of empathetic behavior.

Television fans were found to be less friendly and tolerant of world views. Turner was clear to point out that the study did not prove cause and effect. It could be as simple as more thoughtful people being more interested in reading.

Genre Matters (A Little)

While readers scored higher in general, the research also concluded that the preferred reading content also played a part in scores. Readers of fiction scored highest in social interaction, while drama and romance fans scored the highest on empathy and understanding.

In the published research, they say, “Engaging with fictional prose and comedy in particular could be key to enhancing people’s empathetic abilities.”

Creating Buzz

Turner presented her findings at the British Psychological Society in 2017. What followed was a whirlwind of positive feedback from her research and viral news buzz. The world has long been interested in the psychological connections to reading.

Turner explains, “Reading is a universal pastime and we regularly hear about parents being encouraged to read to their children from a young age to help introduce them to language and develop their vocabulary. This study demonstrates that the different ways that people engage with fiction can impact their emotional intelligence and empathic behaviors.”

The post Reading Books Makes You Nicer, Study Finds appeared first on Magazine.

So, we did what we do best and took to the internet to begin our search for knowledge. And let’s just tell you, there was A LOT to be said about journaling. With what we learned, we compiled a list of the five most compelling benefits of adding a journaling practice to your routine.

Increased Emotional and Mental Wellness

Being human can be hard! And, according to this article, journaling can possibly help with one part of that, which is emotional and mental wellness.

Journaling provides a safe space to purge your thoughts and emotions.  This article explains that having that safe space to vent and express yourself in whatever manner you see fit has various mental and emotional wellness benefits.

That article then goes on to mention that those who have a journaling practice often experience:

• Heightened emotional regulation
• Decrease in stress
• Increase in gratitude
• Increase in mindfulness
• Increase in self-confidence

Among other things, the act of journaling is even suspected to possibly help avoid burnout. Honestly, this portion alone is enough for us. Sign us up!

Improved Cognitive Function

We briefly mentioned above that journaling can be linked to decreased reported stress levels, and we wanted to explore this further. There is evidence that prolonged stress negatively impacts cognition, including memory, decision-making, concentration, and more. Sounds scary, right?

Additionally, there’s a reason why our teachers and professors always encouraged us to physically write our notes. You’ve likely even heard the phrase, “you learn what you write.” Journaling is no different and may be able to assist your working memory.

There are even some articles that claim utilizing specific journaling methods can assist with critical thinking and decision-making skills.

So far, it seems like journaling might be a one-stop shop to fix all our problems!

Improved Physical Wellness

Okay, so we’ve talked about journaling’s mental benefits, especially its ability to lower stress. But did you know that it can also impact your physical wellness? We’ve all heard about the “mind/body connection,” which absolutely plays a role in this!

The hormone released during periods of stress, called cortisol, can negatively impact your body over time. Sure, a short spurt can be helpful since a small amount of cortisol is known to limit inflammation. But, with prolonged periods of stress, the opposite begins to be true.

Journaling can help mitigate prolonged periods of stress, allowing your body to regulate itself. Over time, this regulation can even help boost your immune system.

How wild is that?!

Boost in Creativity

Are there any fellow creatives in the building? If so, you’ve likely experienced the dreaded “block.” But did you know journaling might be able to help with that?

Journaling allows you to spitball your ideas while removing your inner critic. Without the need to be perfect when creating the outline and bones for whatever project you’re working on, people have reported being able to move past the block they previously experienced.

An idea doesn’t have to be perfect to be put down on paper. It’s when we move past that idea that we move out of our perfectionism mindset that we can fully give ourselves permission to create something beautiful. And it seems like journaling can help with that.

Even Forbes is in on the creative benefits of journaling!

Helps with Productivity

Have you ever sat down to finally tackle your ever-growing to-do list, but your brain just won’t cooperate? Dealing with occasional brain fog is a normal part of the human experience. But, of course, it always seems to happen at the worst possible times.

The good news, though, is journaling can help you with that! We’ve already explored the different ways that journaling can help clear your mind. And that, in and of itself, is a huge combatant to help fend off brain fog. But it goes way beyond that.

Earlier in this article, when discussing the cognitive benefits, we briefly mentioned that journaling can help with critical thinking and decision-making. But let’s dive into that a little more.

When we journal, we can go back and read what happened to us. Since we’ve likely already processed these events and are a little more removed from the emotions and thoughts that were occurring at the moment, it becomes easier to get an almost objective perspective on your own life. This allows us to think critically rather than emotionally regarding the decisions we need to make, especially when it comes to achieving our goals.

Recording our days also gives us an incredible tool for looking back and seeing how far we’ve come, especially when it feels like we’re getting nowhere. Some claim that journaling also helps you develop an “it’s already mine” or “I want it, I got it” mentality, which can also help you be more productive.

As Idowu Koyenikan says, “where your attention goes, your time goes.” So it sounds like journaling is perfect for those wanting to spend a little more time and attention on accomplishing their goals.

In conclusion…

Whether you’re doing it for the mental or physical benefits, journaling can be a powerful tool. The power of recording your thoughts and feelings in a no judgment zone has a plethora of benefits, no matter the reason why you started.

Now we just need to find a cute new journal to start putting all those thoughts in…

The post 5 Life-Changing Benefits of Journaling appeared first on Magazine.

It’s no surprise that this subject is beloved of the world’s poets. There are plenty of excellent New Year poems, and it’s likely you already know quite a few of them – Robert Burns’ classic Auld Lang Syne from 1788, for example.

Today, though, I want to introduce three of my own favorites. Maybe they’ll already be familiar to you, or perhaps you’ll find something new amid my picks.

Burning the Old Year by Naomi Shihab Nye

Where there was something and suddenly isn’t,

And absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space.

I begin again with the smallest numbers.

Across four short stanzas, Naomi Shihab Nye encapsulates the anxiety and mournfulness of the New Year. The deeds left on done, and the words left unsaid. All of these small failings are tacked to the Old Year and become part of it.

A narrator destroys this Old Year, and destroys these failings along with it. And in doing so, they bring a semblance of hope and optimism. A New Year, and a new canvas upon which to paint.

Naomi Shihab Nye was born in 1952 in St. Louis, Missouri. She’s an American of the post-war baby boom age. But she’s also a Palestinian – the nationality of her father – and studied at high school in Ramallah.

She has published numerous poetry collections over her long and illustrious career, her work exploring the depth and complexity of Arab-American identity. But it’s Burning the Old Year that resonates most strongly during this season, as we turn away from what is lost, and look towards what is yet to be gained.

New Year’s Morning by Helen Hunt Jackson

The Old Year’s heart was full of greed;

With selfishness it longed and ached,

And cried: “I have not half I need.

My thirst is bitter and unslaked.

But to the New Year’s generous hand

All gifts in plenty shall return;

True love it shall understand;

By all my failures it shall learn.

Helen Hunt Jackson is one of the most prolific American poets of the 19th Century. With New Year’s Morning she casts a joyful but still unflinching light on one of the most important days of the year – a day when all is new, and all promises are as yet unbroken.

Helen was born Helen Fiske in Massachusetts in 1830, going on to marry twice and become known by both married names. Over a life marked by tragedy – her first husband and a number of her children pre-deceased her – Helen was able to produce a vast number of poems, prose works, and also non-fiction books.

It is the non-fiction book A Century of Dishonor, which is perhaps her best known work. The book charts the struggles of Native American peoples against the expanding and oppressive United States, and forms part of Hunt Jackson’s long term campaign of activism for Native American rights.

In Memoriam, (Ring out, wild bells) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

In Memoriam, published in 1850 is a largely somber work written as an elegy to Tennyson’s friend and fellow poet Arthur Henry Hallam. In Ring out, Wild Bells, however, Tennyson is in a more joyous mood, as he heralds the New Year’s approach.

The ringing of the bells was a custom in English churches during the New Year period. Bells would be muffled to sound a knell for the year that was departing and then would be allowed to ring out wild and free for the New Year. It is this latter, unencumbered ringing that Tennyson is invoking in this poem.

A Long-standing Poetic Tradition

There were hundreds of poems I could have chosen for this list. This is such a rich seam of poetic subject matter, after all. In the end, I opted to narrow it down to just three, giving me the chance the explore the meaning and significance of each of these great works.

Hopefully, you have the chance to enjoy your favorite poetry over the festive period and can welcome in a New Year in a reflective but optimistic mood. It’s time to say goodbye to 2024 forever and look forward to the possibility that 2025 will bring.

The post Three Wonderful Poems for the New Year appeared first on Magazine.

Benefits of Journaling

Health Boosts – Just like other mindfulness practices, journaling is proven to provide benefits to overall health and well-being. Daily writing can reduce anxiety and stress and help control mood symptoms of depression. Journaling about your overall well-being can help you to prioritize and rationalize concerns, track symptoms, and reflect on negative self-talk or actions. It also encourages self-confidence and boosts emotional intelligence.

Creativity and Brain Power – Journaling can also be a powerful tool for learning, brain health and artistic abilities. Honoring a writing routine inspires creativity by encouraging a more in-depth accounts of your reflections. Journaling can also boost your long-term memory and enhance critical thinking skills by keeping detailed records and recollections throughout the day.

Reflecting on the Past

Your journal can be a wonderful place to consider your life over the last year. Journals pass no judgments and can’t give unsolicited advice. It’s like having a silent, non-judgmental confidant.

Allow some time to be honest, but fair to yourself while you take stock of 2024. Most importantly, what you did or didn’t accomplish this year can help you navigate your goals for 2025.

Prompts for 2024 Reflections

• What has changed for me and how have I changed?
• How has this year affected me personally and professionally?
• What did I hope for and what did I accomplish?
• How have I grown?
• What have I learned?
• List the highest and lowest moments of the year.

Looking Forward

After taking a good look at your past year, leave it there — in the past. It’s best to figuratively (and in this case, literally) turn the page. Use your reflections as motivation and a starting point for next year’s targets, but don’t dwell on them. Start fresh with goals and resolutions for 2025.

Prompts for 2025 Goal Setting

• What do I hope to learn?
• What professional and personal goals do I hope to achieve?
• Where do I want to travel?
• What habits do I want to start/quit in 2025?
• Where should I prioritize my time and efforts?

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Studies show that goal setting and achievement are more likely when the goals are definable and within reasonable reach. Using the S.M.A.R.T. goals method, you can create goals for the new year that are:

• Specific – What will be accomplished? What actions will you take?
• Measurable – What data will measure the goal? (How much? How well?)
• Achievable – Is the goal doable? Do you have the necessary skills and resources?
• Relevant – How does the goal align with broader goals? Why is the result important?
• Time-Bound – What is the time frame for accomplishing the goal?

Making It A Habit

Starting a journal is simple. Incorporating it into your daily routine might prove more difficult. To begin, all you need is a blank page and something to write with. I recommend a physical journal for the extra benefits of a hand-written piece and going screen free. Choose any of the recommended prompts above or get creative with your own writing ideas.

Set aside a few minutes every day and commit to writing. First thing in the morning is a great time to set expectations and goals for the day. Writing before bed can help you empty your mind for better sleep or reflect on your progress.

Whether you decide to journal daily, weekly or monthly, know that journaling is an act of self-care with a range of benefits. You’ll be better off for it, no matter how small you start.

The post New Year’s Resolution: Journaling in 2025 appeared first on Magazine.

Home Sweet Home

A lot of us would probably describe home as a place, but even more of us would probably describe home as more of a feeling. Home serves as a sanctuary where you can be yourself in your comfiest pajamas, create memories, enjoy your favorite pastimes, and brew a big cup of tea in your favorite mug just the way you like it. A homebody is no stranger to finding peace in a familiar setting.

Make a Choice

Truly embodying being a homebody means embracing whatever it may be that brings you happiness despite these things deviating from social norms. So, while staying in to cozy up with your pet and crack open a new book may not be everyone’s idea of a great night, it’s certainly the perfect one for the seasoned homebody.

The Simple Life

Don’t think for a second that the life of a homebody means no excitement or lack of adventure, in fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you’ve ever snapped in the last piece of jigsaw puzzle, finished a thriller that ended with a major plot twist you didn’t see coming, or brewed the perfect cup of coffee as you watched the sunrise from your front porch, then simply put, you get it.

Where Creativity and Productivity Can Flow

Pursuing a passion project, perfecting a skill, and/or organizing your surroundings are just a few easy homebodies can find fulfillment through allowing their creativity and productivity to flow freely. Trying something new or honing in on a skill doesn’t mean you have to attend a class or workshop, you can pursue these projects from the comfort of your own home and find your own flow.

Cultivating Reconnection

Embracing the homebody lifestyle means saying au revoir to the idea that how busy you are equals how fulfilled you feel. In fact, as a homebody, you understand how important it is to slow down, disconnect from the chaos of daily life, and reconnect with yourself and your surroundings.

Power in Pressing Pause

Self-care tends to go out the window when we fail to press pause every now and then. But a homebody knows pausing for self-care is vital.

Time to prioritize the activities that nourish the mind and body – think meditation, visiting the library, getting some fresh air, making art, or cooking yourself a delicious meal.

Keep Connections Meaningful

No, being a homebody doesn’t mean you’re antisocial or horribly isolated, it just means you prioritize meaningful connections with family, friends, and yourself. Homebodies take it upon themselves to create a space where loved ones feel welcome.

Cheers to the homebodies – to those who slow down, savor the present, and find beauty in the ordinary often seemingly mundane. Here’s to embracing the homebody lifestyle, finding peace, joy, and most importantly, yourself.

The post The Stay Home Club: Celebrating the Homebody Lifestyle appeared first on Magazine.

Introducing JOMO, the joy of missing out. I recently came across this term as an antidote to FOMO. It’s all about tuning out the buzz of the world and the ‘shoulds’, and enjoying what’s right in front of you.

Here are five ideas of activities that will help you cultivate the joy of being in the present, and boost your mental health in the process.

Get Your Hands Messy

We’ve all played with Play-doh as a child right? This is the grown up version of it. Pottery is a hands-on craft that invites you to slow down, grounding you in the present through touch and creativity. Unlike social media, which feeds off instant gratification, pottery requires patience and persistence, teaching you to embrace imperfections rather than seek constant approval.

Creating something from a lump of clay demands total focus, naturally guiding you into a state of mindfulness. Your hands press, mold, and shape, and your mind has to be right there – not drifting to what you could be doing but fully absorbed in what you are doing. This tactile experience not only relieves stress but gives a deep sense of accomplishment as you see your piece evolve.

The best part? Pottery doesn’t ask you to be perfect; it simply invites you to be present. Each unique creation becomes a reminder that joy isn’t always found in being “in the know” – sometimes, it’s about getting your hands messy and enjoying the art of letting go.

Color Your Way to Calm

If getting messy with some clay seems like a bit much, how about a little creative activity that requires no clean-up?

Adult coloring books started becoming popular in the 2010s, and I hope they never go away. Coloring may seem like a simple pastime, but it’s actually a powerful tool for cultivating presence and joy in our busy lives. It’s not just about art, but about the art of slowing down. By focusing on filling each shape with color, you create a small, meditative practice that anchors you in the present moment, leaving stress and to-do lists behind.

As you pick colors and follow patterns, your brain enters a relaxed, almost meditative state. This activity has been shown to reduce anxiety and elevate mood, as it’s both calming and creatively engaging. Unlike scrolling through endless notifications, coloring lets you switch off from technology, focus your mind, and engage in a hands-on task that brings real satisfaction. The results don’t need to be perfect; coloring is about the journey, not the outcome, which can be a relief in a world that often feels demanding and achievement-focused.

Each finished piece serves as a small reminder of the joy in focusing on one thing at a time. So grab some colors and let yourself enjoy the simple pleasure of just ‘being’ – your mind will thank you.

Piece by Piece: Being in the ‘Now’ with Puzzles

Puzzles are hard, but oddly satisfying. I think it’s in the act of turning around each piece, inspecting the colors and shapes, and putting them all together, even if they take a while.

When you’re working on a puzzle, your focus shifts from what’s happening around you to the details right in front of you. This single-minded concentration is a lot like meditation, as it helps quiet racing thoughts and brings a sense of calm.

Solving a puzzle is also incredibly satisfying; each piece you connect offers a mini-reward, releasing dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone. Research shows that working on puzzles can improve mood, reduce stress, and even boost problem-solving skills.

Unlike screen-based activities that encourage instant gratification, puzzles require sustained attention and allow you to unplug. They remind us that joy can be found in small achievements and in the slow, steady progress of working toward something, even if you don’t finish it in one go! So, the next time you feel the urge to scroll, try pulling out a puzzle instead; you might find that it’s the perfect way to recharge and reconnect.

Finding Peace in Every Green Moment

When you’re gardening, you’re fully absorbed in nurturing living things – planting seeds, watering, and watching growth happen at its own pace. This focus on the here and now helps keep your mind away from endless updates and the “shoulds” of the world.

Research shows that being in nature and working with plants can lower stress and improve mood. The repetitive tasks of gardening create a rhythm that calms the mind, letting you enjoy the moment without comparing it to someone else’s highlight reel. Plus, gardening rewards patience. Unlike instant feedback from a phone, you have to wait days, even weeks, to see results – what a refreshing break from the fast-paced digital world.

Gardening also brings a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Each new sprout reminds us that joy can be found in cultivating what’s right in front of us, rather than worrying about the greener grass on the other side.

Lost in a Book: Rediscover Joy Beyond the Screen

When you pick up a book, you step into a world separate from the screen, giving your mind a chance to reset and slow down. Unlike social media, which urges you to jump from post to post, reading asks for a steady, focused rhythm, pulling you deeper with every page.

Diving into a story lets you connect with characters and ideas, which gently shifts your focus from comparison to empathy. It’s a reminder that everyone, fictional or real, has ups and downs that aren’t always visible. This connection grounds you in something genuine, something that isn’t competing for likes or views.

Reading also allows you to be present, enjoying the experience without rushing. You’re not skimming a caption; you’re savoring each chapter. In a world that encourages constant “what’s next?” thinking, books invite us to settle into the here and now, enjoying moments just for what they are.

Finding Your JOMO Activity

By choosing to be present and engage in screen-free moments, we’re reclaiming a little peace and finding fulfillment in the here and now. These five are some of my favorites, but the possibilities are endless. What would be your JOMO activity of choice?

The post What’s JOMO?: 5 Things to Help You Fight FOMO appeared first on Magazine.