My favourite thing about reading and writing is the ability to get lost into a different world. Sometimes life can get overwhelming with all the things that we have to do. It is often hard to set aside time for reading or writing, but it can be really important to do so.
When I say reading or writing, I don’t mean reading your textbook or writing your school paper. I mean writing a poem, fiction story, or blog post. I mean reading that novel you have been meaning to read, or that comic book that your friends keep mentioning.
Let’s start with reading. Personally, reading before bed has made a huge impact on my life. It helps me calm my mind, allowing me to focus on the troubles of the characters in these books instead of all the things that are going on in my life. Therefore, no matter how tired or busy I am, I always make sure to read at least a few pages every night. I might not get through books quickly this way, but it is still a huge improvement from not reading at all. However, if you can find time during the day to read, then that is also never a bad idea!
Writing is something that can often be a lot more difficult, since it requires the writer to be a lot more involved. However, your writing does not need to be perfect! Just write what comes to mind and worry about the details later. Simply getting your ideas on paper can be good enough (even if that paper is just the notes section on your phone!). When I write, I love putting myself into the shoes of my characters. I love building worlds and creating plots and imagining everything so thoroughly that I forget about my own troubles.
Therefore, if you are ever feeling stressed, try to find some time to escape into another world – whether it be your own, or one that someone else has created.