I feel like we are always caught up in schoolwork, and we forget to do things for ourselves. One of the ways we neglect ourselves is by only reading things that are assigned, and not reading for ourselves. Here are 7 reasons why you should make time to read for fun:

1. To explore new places.

Reading can take you to new places far faster and for far less money than an airplane can. You can pick up a book and be in Paris, Rome, or Beijing within seconds.

2. To meet new people.

The people around us can get boring. It's a fact. If you spend all of your time with the same people, you will want to meet new people. Just open a book and you'll be able to meet other people and learn their stories instantly.

3. To become part of something bigger.

When you read a book, you join a new community of people. You remove yourself from your surroundings and you enter an entirely new place. You can become part of a movement of change that helps shape global history as we know it.

4. To expand your knowledge.

I used to only read fiction books because I thought that a non-fiction book would be too boring. However, I recently have become a fan of non-fiction books because I am able to learn about so much in a setting that is a lot more enjoyable than a classroom.

5. To travel through time.

Time travel has been a goal since the beginning of human history. Science is still far away, but you can go back (or forward) in time instantly with a book.

6. To live someone else's life for a while.

When my own life gets boring, I like to try out another person's life for a little bit.

7. To expand your imagination.

When you read a book, your brain works to make the words on the paper transform into images in your head. When you're watching television, your brain does not have to work at all. Reading exercises the mind and makes you smarter.

As a child, I read to explore. As a teenager, I read to escape. As a young adult, I read to find my way home again.