Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Why You Should Be Reading Everyday


By: Ashley Vickney, Account Assistant,
Leonard & Finco Public Relations

In today’s tech climate, you simply open your favorite social media app and are able to discover the latest trending news story within seconds. While this is great on the go, we aren’t getting the meat of the story any longer. Case in point, in an article released by the Pew Research Center, I was surprised to find out that what the average American adult believes and what scientists believe are two very different things. In that same article, it was noted that for the first time since 2004, more Mexicans were leaving the U.S. than were entering.

As public relations professionals, or humans in general, it is important to convey the truth. Not just what it may seem like. Reading also gives you more knowledge in which to draw inspiration from, keeping your ideas fresh!


Keeping that in mind, here are 5 ways to add at least 15 more minutes of reading into your day.
  1. Wake up 15 minutes earlier: Instead of checking your email right away, read your local newspaper’s top three stories (in print or online) and then go to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal or another national newspaper and read their top two articles. That extra 15 minutes leaves you well-informed locally and nationally as well as ready to take on your day. 
  2. Sign up for daily emails: Email services like TheSkimm and Need2Know are great tools to get a lot of information in a little amount of time. They also offer click through links if you want to know even more details, and they’re hilarious which is a great way to wake up. 
  3. Read memoirs, biographies and autobiographies: Events that play out in the news are rarely represented completely and these books tend to give great insight into the thoughts of others. It also shows you that the people we look up to, often have the same doubts and similar challenges that you do. 
  4.  Take time to read during your lunch break: Do you take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour for lunch? Take half of that and read a book, a newspaper or catch up on trending topics using Twitter or Facebook. You take time to unwind from your work and get more reading in. 
  5. Read for 20 minutes before you go to sleep: Grab that memoir, biography or autobiography and read before you go to bed. You’re more likely to get a better night’s sleep, and you met your reading quota for the day!
By just adopting one of these, you’re on the road to being more informed and more inspired. What are looking forward to reading?

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