{"id":7600,"date":"2022-10-26T05:33:39","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T05:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/?p=7600"},"modified":"2022-10-26T05:39:33","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T05:39:33","slug":"bibliotherapy-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/bibliotherapy-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Idea-Sparking Bibliotherapy Activities to Try at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During a particularly low point in my life, I started browsing the tinterwebs for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In-between amusing cat videos, I saw the advice to combat ennui by exploring enjoyable childhood activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forever a cynic, I was naturally skeptical, but decided to give it a go anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After thinking through what I used to like, the answer hit me like a sledgehammer to the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my youth, I was a voracious reader, but it was an activity that had fallen by the wayside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I slowly started picking up a few books again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, almost immediately, I felt my mood start to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t get me wrong – it wasn\u2019t a cure-all, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is why in this article, I’m going to talk about some bibliotherapy activities if you’re in a similar position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12 Bibliotherapy Activities to Try at Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for a fun and therapeutic technique, bibliotherapy<\/a> is the practice of using books to promote healing and self-awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a technique you can explore yourself first. So here are 10 bibliotherapy activities to try at home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Identify your favorite book character.<\/strong> What qualities do you admire in this person? How can you incorporate these traits into your own life? If you choose a book with a strong protagonist, you can empower yourself by reading about someone who overcomes challenges and adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Seek out books from different cultures and perspectives.<\/strong> How do they challenge your beliefs and understanding of the world? A large part of improving our mental health is developing the cognitive flexibility to analyze our situation from different angles (reframing<\/a>). So exiting our own mental echo chamber can be a useful exercise, even if we disagree with the character or message in the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Read a book that addresses an issue you’re struggling with in your own life.<\/strong> Whether it’s addiction, grief, or depression, sometimes the best way to deal with our problems is to see how others have faced them head-on. What inspiration can we take from these fictional stories or non-fiction accounts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Re-read a childhood favorite from beginning to end.<\/strong> Reconnecting with the things that brought us joy as children can help us tap into our inner wells of happiness as adults and can relieve psychological blockages. Don’t be embarrassed if these books don’t feel cerebral enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Seek out books with positive messages<\/strong> about relationships, family, and friendships. These stories will help you break bad habits and develop healthier patterns in your own life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Read a book about personal growth or self-improvement<\/strong>, and make a plan to implement any helpful tips or strategies. I specifically recommend books about mindfulness and meditation; practices can have numerous benefits, including reducing stress and improving focus. This was one of my first forays into nonfiction bibliotherapy and it opened a whole new world of exploring the topic of personal psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Use reading prompts to stimulate insights as you read.<\/strong> For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n