PURVA GROVER
Most of us stand fully aware of what our bodies need, what our skin craves, and what our souls desire. And yet, there is so little chatter about nourishing the mind.
What about exercise for the brain, the nerves, the restless interior? What if it required minimal effort?
What if I asked you to devote just six minutes a day to reading — knowing that research has shown reading for six minutes can reduce stress levels by up to 68 per cent?
Why not pick up a book to soothe and strengthen the mind?
A common belief among 'non-readers,' both adults and children, is this: they don’t have time. Or they find reading boring. Both, quite frankly, are untrue.
Do you read emails or food menus? School circulars? WhatsApp group chats? School assignments? College applications? Then you read.
Time is the elephant in the room. We are a generation that hustles by habit. But surely we can spare six minutes — while waiting for a cab, for coffee to brew, for the elevator to arrive, for the lecture to start. And boring?
We don’t all like the same pizza toppings — why should we like the same books? If reading feels dull, perhaps you simply haven’t found the book meant for you.
Now that two of the biggest myths are off the table, shall we let reading nourish us? Not the hurried skimming we do on our phones and iPads — chasing headlines, absorbing fragments, forgetting them before the next swipe.
That is not reading; that is grazing. Doom-scrolling masquerading as engagement. And while we are at it, remember that reading need not be elaborate. You don’t need a curated corner; your bed or couch will do. You don’t need a limited-edition hardback; borrow one from a library, a friend, or a colleague — parents and kids can share books too. Harry Potter, anyone?
Reading nourishes in a way that is almost invisible at first. It starts with your breathing steadying, followed by your eyes chasing words on a page (or on a Kindle) rather than a restless flick, ping, or ding on your phone. This, by itself, is enough of a signal for the brain to absorb, not react.
In a few minutes, the nervous system softens, the pulse lowers, and the mind is given something textured to chew on rather than hearts, likes, and followers to chase.
Where scrolling leaves us overstimulated, a story leaves residue — an image, a character, an emotion, a sentence, and a feeling that lingers.
That lingering is nourishment. The intention is simple: to offer your overwhelmed, over exhausted brain something worthwhile. Even a few paragraphs read with focus will do their quiet work — calming nerves, sharpening memory, and restoring patience.
Blessings, like nourishment, take many forms. A new outfit nourishes you as much as a platter of nachos — and so can a book.
Start with what you love. If you’re enthusiastic about sports, pick a biography of your favourite player. If you’re into food, try a culinary memoir. If news about the region excites you, you are at the right place — Oman Observer; yes, it counts. Soon, your mind will ask for more.
Once it tastes the nourishment that lives in words, it will crave it. And you may find that within less than 21 days (to form a habit), you become someone who looks forward to ending the evening with a book in hand — your body’s gentle way of winding down after a noisy, busy day.
Six minutes. That’s all it takes to begin.
(The writer is a creative educator fostering a culture of reading and writing)
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