In praise of reading for pleasure

Time spent with your nose in a book is never wasted – it can improve your life and your career

World Book Day, a UNESCO-designated celebration of books and reading, takes place on 7 March in the UK and Ireland, and on 23 April worldwide. Why not join in by committing to start reading something other than textbooks, accountancy-focused journals and business articles? 

Actually, when was the last time you read a book just for the fun of it? If you are one of those people who don’t read for pleasure regularly, you may be missing out. Reading books is good for you, both personally and professionally. 

‘It’s hard to think of other non-onerous activities that benefit us in so many different ways,’ says Karen Kwong, performance coach and chief executive of RenOC Consulting. 

Health benefits 

It’s a well-known fact that reading books helps us relax and escape from the worries and stresses of everyday life. A study at the University of Sussex has found that even six minutes of reading can be enough to reduce our stress levels by as much as 68%. The study has also shown that it works better and faster than other relaxation methods, such as listening to music or taking a walk. 

There are other health benefits too. Numerous scientific studies have proven that reading regularly can reduce the symptoms of depression. Frequent readers also report lower incidence of dementia in later life. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain needs exercise to keep it strong and healthy, so keeping it stimulated through reading could delay the progress of (or possibly even prevent) cognitive decay. 

Apparently, reading can even extend our life expectancy. Researchers from Yale University have found that people who read books for as little as 30 minutes a day live two years longer than people who don’t read at all. By reading books we improve our vocabulary, thinking skills, concentration, empathy, social perception and emotional intelligence – the ‘cognitive gains’ that give us ‘survival advantage’ and increase our longevity. 

Reading hones your professional skills 

These cognitive gains are also important if you want to succeed professionally. In particular, you need to develop a high degree of emotional intelligence now that new technologies are changing the way we work. 

Increasingly, accountants are relied upon to interpret the data generated by smart machines and to provide strategic advice, based on that data, both outside and inside their organisations. The latter involves effective cooperation with various stakeholders, which is only possible if you know how to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

‘Reading allows you to experience a range of situations and characters that you might not otherwise encounter... you also hone the instincts that make up intuition. Your future work skills may require being able to read people better, and reading books is perfect training for this

‘You need to be able to form trusting relationships, to understand and explore other people’s values and preferences, and to support them while they make decisions,’ says GP and educator Richard Stevens. 

‘Reading allows you to experience a range of situations and characters that you might not otherwise encounter. It allows you to explore and challenge ideas, people and circumstances. By reading you also hone the instincts that make up intuition. Your future work skills may require being able to read people better, and reading books is perfect training for this.’ 

Reading books forces you to form opinions too, so in the process you are developing your critical and analytical thinking skills. 

‘You may not necessarily agree with a particular viewpoint or conclusions but they make you think, give perspective and help you hone your arguments,’ says Kwong. 

You also get exposed to new words and phrases, which will inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary and improve your communication skills. And being articulate in your speech and your writing is a must for an accountant. This is what adds to your credibility as a person and a professional. 

Practical ways to read more 

People – especially busy professionals – often say they don’t have time to read. ‘But this isn’t a good excuse, it simply means that you aren't as time-efficient as you could be, perhaps because you are tired and take longer to do most things,’ says Kwong. ‘The more refreshed you are, the more efficient you'll be, so get proper sleep, exercise and leisure time, which should include reading. This is how you make the time – it’s as simple as that.’ 

Besides, there are hidden minutes and small opportunities to read everywhere. 

Kwong says: ‘If you break your day down, you should be able to find a few minutes here and there when you can pick up a book. You also have your lunch break and your commute to and back from work. And how about reading before you go to sleep? It’ll also help you unwind and refocus away from your day and it’s been proven to help one's quality of sleep too.’ 

If you don’t yet read habitually, it may initially take quite some willpower to stay focused on your book for any length of time. 

‘You need to be quite strict with yourself about sitting down to actually read the book but, like with all things habitual, if you make it regular and you schedule it into your day, then it should get easier,’ says Kwong 

Limit distractions such as the internet too. Here, leaving your phone in another room and reading physical books rather than e-books should do the job. 

Don’t discount audiobooks, though, which are ideal if you have to drive to work. 

‘You can also listen to them while cleaning, cooking and doing other menial chores,’ says Bijal Shah, book therapist and founder of Book Therapy, a personalised reading service that matches people with books based on their interests, needs and reading habits. 

‘Audio can provide a different experience and connection to the book and its characters, which is sometimes more intimate than the visual aspect of reading a book. It's addictive too, so it can soon turn into a habit.’ 

‘A virtual book club is location independent – all you need is wifi. And having a deadline of a monthly “meeting” gives you the necessary motivation to keep turning those pages’ 

And how about starting a book club with your co-workers, or joining one elsewhere? 

Clara Wilcox, career coach at The Balance Collective, runs an online personal development book club. She says: ‘A virtual book club is location independent – all you need is wifi. And having a deadline of a monthly “meeting” gives you the necessary motivation to keep turning those pages.’ 

Wilcox also provides book synopses on her Balance Collective blog. These – as well as curated book lists that you can find via Google (check out Bill Gates' favourite books of 2018, for example) – are great if you’re not sure where to start when trying to develop your new habit of reading. 

Kwong, however, believes there’s something else that could make all the difference: ‘Most people will have loved reading at some stage in their lives. As children and teens, books captivated many. It's about trying to recapture that spirit. 

‘If you want to reintroduce reading into your life, reread your favourite books first. Reigniting that love for your favourites should spark a desire for more.’ 

From Student Accountant 2019, ACCA