Whether you’re an avid reader or haven’t picked up a book in years, joining a book club brings with it a myriad of benefits for retirees. From forming new social connections to inspiring lively discussions and living a longer happier life, here’s 5 reasons why you should join a book club.
1. JOINING A BOOK CLUB COULD EXTEND YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY
How is this so, you might ask! Let us enlighten you. According to a report published by University of Queensland School of Psychology researchers Dr Niklas Steffens and Dr Tegan Cruwys, joining a social club just might help you live longer.
Dr Steffens and Dr Cruwys conducted a study that tracked the health of 424 people in the UK – from four years before they retired to six years after – to find whether belonging to social groups reduced mortality.
It was found that for retirees who belonged to two social groups before retirement, their chance of death was two per cent if they maintained the same number of groups for six years afterward. However, for those who lost membership of one group, the risk of death rose to five per cent. And, for those who lost membership of both groups, they had a 12 per cent chance of dying in the six years that followed.
In a nutshell, the study found that the more groups an individual belonged to in the first few years after they stopped working, the lower their risk of death.
2. A BOOK CLUB HELPS YOU STAY CONNECTED AND GIVES YOU A GREATER SENSE OF PURPOSE
An opportunity to meet regularly with friends, a book club motivates you to hold conversations with others, listen to different opinions and establish a sense of community with other readers. Seriously, you could spend hours discussing the merits of a character or the plot of a novel.
Also giving you a sense of agency and meaning, book club is a place where you feel supported and can offer support to others. This is all very important when it comes to your long-term health and well-being.
3. BELONGING TO A BOOK CLUB HELPS BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS
With books being introduced by different members of your book club, you’ll quickly discover new genres and styles that you like but may never have picked for yourself.
You’ll also gain new perspectives of different people and cultures and will hear a diversity of opinions from fellow book club members – often making for a lively and spirited conversation.
Plus, you will expand your choice of reading material – goodbye reading slump!
4. DELICIOUS SNACKS & BOOK CLUB GO HAND-IN-HAND
While reading, reviewing and discussing books are (obviously) key components of book club, we cannot forget the yummy snacks and beverages that go with it.
Whether you meet over lunch, morning or afternoon tea or enjoy discussing your book over dinner and drinks – good food accompanied by a cuppa (or cheeky wine) makes book club even better!
5. YOU CHOOSE THE BEST-FIT BOOK CLUB FOR YOU – IN PERSON OR ONLINE
If you’re finding it tricky to get out and about or would simply prefer to do book club from home, today there are a range of options available. You can catch up with other members over Zoom, join a Facebook group or meet at a café – it’s completely up to you!
