Reading Boosts My Mental Health
Frank: Because I have two jobs, both of them are online, I spend a significant amount of time in front of a computer screen every day.
Frank: And so one thing that I like to do to take care of my mental health is to read, uh, every night at least on days where I work.
Frank: So Monday through Friday, um, I avoid watching Netflix or streaming video because that’s simply being connected to another screen.
Frank: And I play music in the background and simply read a novel for at least 60 to 90 minutes during those days and I think it helps my mental health quite a lot.
Vocabulary:
significant amount of time – a large, noticeable, or important quantity of time, “She spends a significant amount of time studying for her medical exams.”
computer screen – the flat surface on a computer where images, videos, and text are displayed, “Staring at a computer screen all day can make your eyes feel very tired.”
take care of – to protect, look after, or keep someone or something healthy and safe, “It is important to eat fresh vegetables to take care of your body.”
mental health – a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being, “Taking a walk in nature can reduce stress and improve your mental health.”
at least – not less than; a minimum of a specific number or amount, “You should try to sleep for at least seven hours every night.”
avoid – to stay away from someone or something, or to stop yourself from doing an action, “You should avoid using your phone right before you go to sleep.”
streaming video – watching a movie, show, or video directly over the internet without downloading the file first, “Our family loves streaming video on the weekend instead of watching cable TV.”
simply – just, only, or in a plain and uncomplicated way, “If you want to turn on the lamp, simply press the small black button.”
connected to – linked, joined, or attached to something else (like an internet network or a device), “Make sure your laptop is connected to the Wi-Fi before starting your online class.”
in the background – sounds, music, or sights that are present but are not the main focus of your attention, “She likes to have classical music playing softly in the background while she studies.”
novel – a long, written book that tells a story about imaginary people and events, “He went to the bookstore to buy a new mystery novel to read on the plane.”
quite a lot – a large amount, a large number, or a high degree of something, “Thank you for helping me wash the car; it saved me quite a lot of time.”