When Was the Last Time You Read a Book?

Once upon a time, before screens claimed the quiet moments in our day, it was books that filled the gaps – a paperback balanced by the bed; a self-help title tucked into a bag; the latest bestseller to accompany a commute.

Yet despite being one of the simplest ways to learn, relax and switch off, reading for pleasure is something adults are doing less and less of. Nowadays, books are too often saved for long journeys or holiday lounging; piled high, gathering dust, while we wait for life to slow down and take on a steadier pace.

And we’re missing out on more than just a good story.

Research from The Reading Agency^* has found that only half of UK adults now read regularly for pleasure, despite growing evidence of the benefits reading can bring to our mental wellbeing, communication skills and lifelong learning.

Whether you’re looking to manage stress, spark fresh ideas at work, or simply spend less time scrolling, it seems that picking up a book again might be one of the most rewarding habits you can rediscover.

Why reading feels different in the digital age

The issue isn’t a lack of reading altogether. Most of us spend large portions of the day consuming emails, text messages, news alerts and social media posts. In many ways, we’re reading more than ever before.

But digital content is designed to be consumed quickly. We skim headlines, dip in and out of conversations, and switch constantly between tasks and tabs. Books, however, present a different prospect. They invite us to stay with a single idea or story for longer than a few seconds.

This kind of sustained attention is becoming increasingly rare – which may be one reason reading feels so refreshing when we return to it. Instead of reacting to information, we’re engaging with it. Instead of jumping between thoughts, we’re following one thread at a time.

Why books boost mental wellbeing

When we’re absorbed in a story or exploring a topic that interests us, our attention moves away from the mental to-do lists that compete for space in our minds. Rather than adding to the noise, reading can create a sense of calm and focus.

The Reading Agency’s 2024 wellbeing research* found that more than four in ten regular readers felt reading had improved their mental health, while a similar proportion said it helped them sleep better.

Readers often describe getting lost in a good book – but it’s not always about escaping reality. Sometimes, it’s about creating enough distance from daily pressures to return to them with a clearer head.

What can books teach us about other people?

One of the most overlooked benefits of reading books is its ability to broaden our perspective. Every book offers a glimpse into a different experience, whether that’s a novel told through someone else’s eyes, a memoir that challenges our assumptions, or a non-fiction book that introduces a completely new way of thinking.

For busy professionals, this matters more than we might realise. Many workplace skills, including communication and collaboration, rely on our ability to understand other people’s viewpoints. Reading regularly exposes us to different voices, personalities and life experiences, helping us develop empathy and curiosity – skills that can’t be mastered through a training course alone.

How reading makes you better at work

Have you ever noticed how your best ideas often arrive when your mind has space to wander? Reading can help create that room. Unlike the quick-fire pace of emails, messages and online content, books give your thoughts somewhere to settle and stretch out. They introduce new concepts and spark unexpected connections.

That kind of space can be invaluable in the workplace, especially when you’re trying to solve a problem or approach a task differently.

And if you already look to reading as part of your professional development, then remember: your book choices don’t have to come from the business section. A biography about rebuilding after loss, a novel about adapting to change, or even a story set in a world far removed from your own can offer unexpected prompts for problem-solving.

The next solution to a work challenge might not come from another meeting, but from a chapter read over lunch.

Rediscovering an old habit

Most of us don’t stop reading because we’ve fallen out of love with books – we’ve simply drifted away from them. The novel on the bedside table gets replaced by a tablet. The lunchtime chapter becomes a scroll through social media.

But returning to reading books is easier than you might think. You don’t need to tackle a classic you’ve avoided since school or commit to reading 30 books in a year – simply begin with a subject that interests you, a recommendation from a friend, or an audiobook when you’re next out for a walk.

You might find that’s all it takes to find your way back to a habit with its own kind of happy ending.

* Adult Reading Research Report | The Reading Agency