Ok, I know what you're thinking. The semester just started, and you're expecting me to do even more reading?

But wait a second before you throw your hefty syllabus packets at me and start making excuses about having way too many assignments/club meetings/late-night shifts. Let me explain why you totally can and should make pleasure reading a part of your routine.

All throughout middle and high school I was lucky enough to have a specific class block dedicated to 'free reading.' In between excruciating Algebra and AP Bio lectures, I always looked forward to that uninterrupted 90 min of time where I could recline in a comfy chair and make my way through a new book.

Sadly, this luxury changed once I got to college. Since I'm an English major, the majority of my life usually involves around 100-200 pages of reading assignments per week on top of various essays/articles to write. It became so easy to feel burnt out by all the reading I had to do that I completely forgot all about the reading I wanted to do. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the books I read in class, but there's a definite difference between a professor telling you to finish a work and making the choice to explore something yourself.

That's why, as I enter the Spring of my Junior year, I've made it one of my long-term goals to introduce regular 'pleasure reading' time back into my life and finally finish off all those unopened volumes on my shelf that have been collecting dust for more than 2 years now!

Even if the literary life isn't your usual scene, pleasure reading offers tons of benefits for all college students by improving their mental, physical, and personal health. Here are a couple positive effects of regular reading that you may not expect:

1. Sleep better- We've all seen those studies that staring at your phone or laptop screen too close to bedtime can mess with your brain's natural signals and make it harder to fall asleep. Rather than spend the hour before bed scrolling through your Facebook and Instagram feeds, swap out the harsh screen lighting for a couple paperback chapters. Your eyes will thank you and you'll wake up more rested and alert for those A.M. classes.

2. Pursue Your Interests- One of the greatest things about reading for fun is that you have complete control over what you read. Bored by the classics? Not a poetry fan? It doesn't matter. You decide which books/subjects are worth your attention. Anything goes, whether it be checking out an instructive how-to guide to skateboarding or spending every Sunday morning browsing through "The New York Times."

3. Boost Your Personal/Professional Life

Looking for a way to approach that cutie in the dining hall but not sure what to say? Why not try asking if they've heard of that bestselling mystery everyone's been buzzing about or see where they sit on the whole young adult movie adaption debate?

Who knows, maybe you'll have a few favorite authors in common, or even better, maybe they'll introduce you to a new work that you can ask to borrow sometime...

Plus, nothing will make you seem more cultured and well-rounded to professors or potential employers during interviews than offering up a few interesting book suggestions of your own or striking up a discussion about whatever's on your current to-read list.

If like me, you miss being a 'reader' but still worry about how to fit the extra pages in with your assigned course load, remember to set your own pace. Unlike with your classes, there are no deadlines. You don't have to finish a new novel every week. Start by taking 30 min while grabbing lunch in the dining hall or after hitting the gym to sit down, breathe, and start your own story.