Supporting local in Slough for Read a Book Day and beyond
Every year, Read a Book Day encourages people to step away from their screens and to settle down with a great read instead. Whilst reading may just seem like a hobby for some, or something that can only be enjoyed on a holiday, the benefits of reading for decision-makers in the business world has an enormous impact. Research indicates that to become an expert in a specific field, you need to read 50 books a year on that subject – which translates to roughly one a week.
“Regardless of whether it’s for recreational purposes or professional development, reading has a whole host of benefits,” expert business coach at ActionCOACH Slough, Simac explained. “Many business owners think they’re too busy to schedule time into their diaries for such activities, but by committing to just an hour a day – half an hour in the morning and another in the evening – the results within your business will start to show. It all comes down to how reading affects our bodies and how we, as humans, operate.”
Local bookshops had to adapt during pandemic lockdowns by turning to online orders and delivery services. With a survey conducted by the Reading Agency in 2020 revealing that the nation was reading more in lockdown, with 1 in 3 adults reading more*, the team at ActionCOACH Slough believe it’s been important to recognise and support the businesses making the changes that ensure we can keep our bookshelves stacked.
Sheryl Shurville and Martin McKean co-own and run the Chiltern Bookshops, with shops in both Chorleywood and Gerrards Cross. The bookshops have been supporting their local communities for over 70 years and harbour a wealth of bookselling experience.
“Since we’ve been able to reopen, the continued local support has been so important to us. Our shops are at the heart of their communities and we ourselves are passionate about supporting local, for example using local caterers when we host events. When the pandemic hit, like all independent business owners, we struggled. My business partner Martin and I were running a bookshop each while our staff were on furlough,” explained Sheryl.
“Customers would email us with orders, and we would package and deliver them ourselves. There were a few teething problems to begin with, but we eventually got into the swing of things! We started hosting online events for authors releasing their books and hosting online book clubs too. We just had to learn as we went along.”
Simac lists his top five benefits of reading:
• Promotes mental health – when reading, you allow yourself to be invited into a world that distracts you from your daily stresses
• Improves memory, focus and concentration – reading not only improves your brain’s connectivity, it also increases attention span, focus and concentration
• Brain exercise – reading daily helps your brain to stay in shape by providing a workout in multiple complex cognitive functions
• Improves expertise – one of the most obvious benefits of reading is how knowledgeable you’ll become as a result
• Enhances sleep – all of the above will combine to enhance sleep and improve sleep quality.
Simac added, “When individuals invest in reading, the results are destined to be great. Putting aside time to focus on your own development will only have positive effects, not just on you as the business owner but on the rest of the team too. You never know what you might achieve with just an hour of reading a day – the results are endless.”
With Read a Book Day kickstarting this week, there’s never been a better time to get stuck into a book, whether that’s an old favourite or something entirely new. With the multiple benefits of reading, you really could change your life for the better.
*The Reading Agency, World Book Night Survey, 2020