The Benefits of Being an Introverted Book Nerd!
For those of us who are very much introverts, we often can’t understand why people would want to network and go to loud parties, when it’s far more interesting to simply stay home and snuggle up with a good book!
There’s nothing wrong with being an extrovert. The only issue is that often extroverts seem to think that everyone else has to be one too!
But reading books offers great mental health benefits for those of us who tire of the loud volume of life. Turn off the background chatter (we don’t even need ‘the telly on in the background’. And just enjoy the calm space that you get from reading something good.
Quiet time helps attention to settle. And good books don’t have to be how-to books. In fact, the real benefits of relaxed reading, often come from a romantic novel or some inspiring poetry, or perhaps an interesting biography or a funny memoir.
A bigger vocabulary, even if you’re not chatty!
Reading has benefits beyond being relaxing. You’ll find that people who enjoy reading good books go beyond ‘text speak’. Their hearts run deeper and their vocabulary is richer. They have empathy (they don’t spend lives on their phones, nor speak in short text messages). Nor participate in modern cyber-bullying nor ghost people nor get involved in the latest celebrity gossip.
Introverted book nerds tend to run deeper than that. They are all about the soul: deep learning and why we’re here – all that kind of stuff! Which matters for those of us who prefer to ponder on life, rather than be the loudest person in the room!
You’ll often also find that introverted book nerds are the ones who tend to write better. They are the ones that if you need some tender loving care, won’t send a text message or a silly emoji. They will send you a handwritten note so show they care, or pop round with homemade cake – and possibly a good book they think may help.
Books don’t demand anything
Many people these days are very demanding, always wanting attention and answers. Books don’t do that. They are your fellow introverted friends, who will give you time. You don’t have to read more than a chapter a day, and gradually they will become loving friends who give unconditional love.
A bit like animals, who also tend to prefer guardians who sit with them reading a book, instead of watching loud TV or gazing at phones all evening.
Recharging with a book is not being unfriendly. It’s simply an intelligent and useful form of self-care for both body and mind. It’s also giving you boundaries, to be who you are.
You can learn to ‘find your people’ without small talk. Often reading good books, gives you a sense of who you really are. If you are surrounded by people who don’t share your values, often you can find them in a book.
- If you love God and are surrounded by heathens, read a nice Biblical devotional, and you’ll immediately feel better.
- If you’re vegan and surrounded by meat-eaters who question your choices, read a lovely book of recipes by a fellow plant-based eater.
- If you love poetry but people think that’s a bit flowery, then stuff them. Buy yourself a gorgeous volume of nature poetry, make a cup of tea (or pour yourself a glass of wine) and sit back and read to your heart’s content!
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. Haruki Murakami
Good Tuesday’s eco-friendly book journal
This A5 book review journal is ideal for happy introverted bookworms. Jot down the plots, look back at books you’ve read and track your favourite books in this spiral-bound journal.
Each book gets a single page to note down thoughts, and you can also use the journal to note things discussed at book clubs, or books to recommend to family and friends.
You’ll find a daily reading tracker with yearly overview, a book shelf tracker , a reading log and index and 104 pages, plus a reading wish list.
Everything at Good Tuesday is printed on recycled paper, sent in plastic-free packaging, made in the UK and beautifully designed.
Choosing recycled paper is better than FSC-certified paper, as that still requires fast-growing trees with pesticides (instead these products ‘close the loop’ and use up unwanted waste that would otherwise end up at landfill, emitting methane gas).
