This summer, step away from screens and rediscover the joy of reading

Screens are everywhere, eating away at a huge chunk of our free time. The result? Reading has plummeted to its lowest level in ten years.

Summer is the perfect time to take a break and rediscover the joy of reading, an activity with scientifically proven benefits for sleep, memory, and concentration.

To gently reintroduce books into your routine without putting any pressure on yourself, Belgian literary influencer François Coune recommends starting very gradually with “a quarter of an hour of reading each day.” According to him, the momentum builds on its own:“That quarter of an hour stretches out, and little by little, you read more and more”—the hardest part being getting started.

To get started, there’s no need to overcomplicate things: turn to topics that fascinate you, such as romance or sports, or immerse yourself once again in a memorable novel—a story you’ve already experienced and loved. All that’s left is to take your book with you everywhere you go, every day, to replace the habit of reaching for your smartphone on public transportation, in waiting rooms, or just before falling asleep (advice from librarians compiled by The New York Times).