Sunday Edition #59: Silly (BUT REFRESHING) Summer Reads

You're reading a digital article, but it's sending you to printed stories this summer -  away from screen lights, back to simpler times, freeing you from literary pressures.

Indulging in a lighthearted summer read is like savouring a scoop of your favourite ice cream on a warm afternoon—a delightful escape into a world of laughter, whimsy, and relaxation. 

There are countless options to help you escape within your genre and media of preference - and they don't need to be a complete novel: bite-sized literature can be just as refreshing.

Tailor your reading choices to ensure a fulfilling experience that uplifts mood, reduces stress, and nurtures a sense of relaxation.

This tailoring exercise must start with complete honesty. Forget any attempt to impress others with a high-brow title and internal pressures to "become more cultured". Your summer reading should be as pleasurable and guilt-free as that ice cream - down to your favourite flavour.

Brown-paper the cover if you must keep your choice of reading secret.

Each literature genre can contribute differently to wellbeing through distinct mechanisms backed by science.

Erotic novels, for instance, can trigger an increase in heart rate and stimulate the release of endorphins, which promote relaxation and pleasure. Fashion and lifestyle magazines, known for their visual appeal, activate the brain's reward centre, fostering positive emotions.

Studies suggest that exposure to humour found abundantly in comedic chronicles, triggers dopamine release, enhancing mood and reducing stress.

Gossip publications, often criticised, can offer a social bonding effect. Sharing and discussing gossip activates the brain's social reward systems, facilitating a sense of connectedness and camaraderie.

Another summer favourite genre, cheesy romances, though considered light reads, have psychological benefits. The predictable narratives and happy endings provide a sense of closure and emotional satisfaction, releasing oxytocin—the "bonding hormone."

Wellbeing benefits, planning and ideas considered, here are some of anatomē's favourite wellbeing quotes: full of wit, wisdom, and character - but not necessarily scientific, serious, or high brow.

I like long walks, especially when they're taken by people who annoy me. - Fred Allen

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the heck she is. -  Ellen DeGeneres

If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you. - Steven Wright

I take a multivitamin everyday to stay healthy... and a multi-narcotic every night to stay sane. - Sandra Bernhard

I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants. - A. Whitney Brown

Inside me there's a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate him with four or five cupcakes. - Bob Thaves

If you're going to do something tonight that you'll be sorry for tomorrow morning, sleep late. - Henny Youngman

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams... unless your dream is to eat a whole cake. - Oprah Winfrey

The first time I see a jogger smiling, I'll consider it. - Joan Rivers

Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine. - Whoopi Goldberg

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