In today's world, the time it takes to earn money and achieve success often replaces the time it takes for important self-reflection and personal growth. When people become more and more consumed by their ambitions, they can forget the essential actions taken for a healthy life. Taking the time to read and educate themselves is part of that healthy lifestyle. This article will dive into the risks posed by blindly following pop culture trends and emphasizes the importance of each individual resisting the urge to "take it easy" and being more self-conscious about themselves and what they are reading.
Popular culture has an real impact on people's lives, shaping common opinions, behaviors and communication. While it can provide some entertainment and a sense of belonging, it can also be a distraction from the individuals true purpose and identity in life. Popular culture is based on trends that come and go. People may find themselves adapting to the latest fad, without understanding it's true value on their life. The news industry today is one example that features a distracting nature of information to read which contains a variety of stories ranging from local to international topics. These stories may become too distracting to readers on a daily basis if it's the only source of reading they do each day.
This collective action is particularly noticeable when it comes to reading books while residing in a digital landscape. One article pointed out that reading has be lower for teenagers and younger people because of social media and the popularity of all activities on those platforms. TikTok and YouTube continue to be a top entertainment and educational source. Watching a video clip is easier to do but a short clip does not contain the same information or depth when compared to the time it takes to read a book. This effect has been seen mostly on the younger generations who grew up with digital media and experienced time in a different way.
“There's no lack of intelligence among young people, but they do have less experience focusing for longer periods of time and reading long-form text.” (source)
The natural desire to "take it easy" can result in an individual choice to do things easy instead of taking the time to do something difficult. Reading a long book today takes time and effort. Comprehension is the key to understanding long form reading and books. “Being able to read long-form text is crucial for understanding complex issues and developing critical thinking skills. Democracies need informed voters and involved citizens who can think through issues, and that might be more difficult for people of all ages now that online information is the norm.” (source)
Comprehending complex situations helps a person make the correct decision in their own life during a complex moment. If they are able to read and comprehend an extensive amount of detail it will help them process other forms of complex issues.
There are a few steps to making reading more of a habit for anyone wanting to explore the in depth reading adventure. Here are some of the steps to take.
Be sure to check out your local library too for some book options!
