March is National Reading Month, a time to celebrate the joy of books and the countless benefits they bring. Reading expands knowledge, increases vocabulary, deepens empathy, reduces stress, and transports us to places we’ve never been—all without leaving the comfort of our own home. But beyond these well-known benefits, reading can also help us slow down time, making life feel richer and more memorable.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” and while there is some truth to this statement, it’s actually routine—not fun—that makes time feel like it’s slipping through our fingers. In the book Until the Streetlights Come On, author Ginny Yurich, creator of the “1000 Hours Outside” movement, explores the science behind how we experience time.
She explains that when we fall into repetitive routines, our brains consolidate those experiences into single memories, making days, months, and even years blur together. In contrast, novel experiences—new places, new activities, and new challenges—are stored as multiple distinct memories, giving us a richer sense of time. This explains why childhood, full of firsts and fresh experiences, feels slow and expansive, whereas adulthood seems to fly on by.
So, how does this connect to National Reading Month? Simple: by making reading a novel experience, we can slow time down and create more lasting memories. This doesn’t require a grand overhaul of your routine—just small, intentional shifts to make reading feel fresh and exciting.
For families, reading aloud together is a powerful way to build connection while making the experience stand out. If bedtime stories are already part of your routine, try changing the setting—read outside on the porch as the sun sets, around the campfire, or under the covers with a flashlight—one of our family favorites! For younger children, building a reading fort or tent can make story time feel like an adventure. Even something as simple as reading at the park instead of indoors can turn a regular reading session into a special event.
For older readers, changing up where or how you read can have the same effect. Swap out your usual reading chair for a hammock, a sunny spot in the backyard, or a cozy window seat in a café. Try reading a genre you don’t usually go for, join a book club for the first time, or listen to an audiobook while taking a walk at a new park or nature preserve. Each of these small changes can make reading feel like an event rather than just another part of the daily routine.
National Reading Month is a time to celebrate books, but it’s also an opportunity to celebrate the experiences that reading can create. By making reading a novel, intentional act, rather than just something we squeeze into our routines, we not only deepen our engagement with books, but we also stretch time, creating memories that stay with us. As National Reading Month comes to a close, challenge yourself by diversifying your reading routine. After all, it’s the unique moments that linger longest in our minds. Happy reading!