The Case For Mindful Reading In PR
November 20, 2019
My father worked for years as an English teacher and my mother was a college professor. During my childhood, there were books throughout the house: novels, philosophy, current events and best sellers. My parents emphasized that a big part of being a complete person was reading. Spending time with books allowed you to broaden your perception and think critically.
Those habits followed me into early adult life. In college, I majored in English literature and philosophy, which amounted to a four-year book club. After I graduated I worked for local newspapers where inveterate reading was part of the job. In my off hours, I spent time lost inside books and stories. The countless hours of reading helped make me a better writer and a critical thinker, and broadened my knowledge base. While I read for fun, all that reading made me a better writer and a better employee.
Somewhere in the early 21st century, my reading habits took a hit. The internet made it easy to digest bite-sized nuggets of information or stream a video. My once-formidable attention span eroded as I spent less time with more content. Adding to that, I entered the world of PR after spending years as a journalist. Multi-tasking wasn’t a nice extra in this career; it was an expectation. Each day started with countless emails, award applications, pitches, client counsel and strategy. Mindful reading became a luxury.
I’ve tried to make mindful reading a priority again in the past year or so – not only because I enjoy it, but because it helps me work better. We live in an age of distraction. Little wonder, then, that a working style based on constant distraction makes it challenging to do your best work. The more time I spend reading – even if it’s just 30 minutes per day – the more I carry steady, mindful habits into my work. Allowing your mind to slow down and absorb information, enables you to be better equipped to tackle a piece of client writing or a pitch in a thoughtful manner.
If your mind can absorb nuance and detail through committed reading (books and magazine articles, not listicles or social media posts) you’ll be better equipped to find crucial nuances and details in your PR practice. Finally, there is the undeniable fact that a PR practice is about language and communication. If you spend ample time with the best communicators and storytellers you will sharpen your own skills.
I’m not suggesting you turn off social media, don’t stream a video or never look at your Facebook feed. I am, however, making a case for letting your brain relax and work the way it did for centuries before technology changed everything in short order. The end result might be that you’ll become a sharper thinker and a better PR practitioner.
Justin Norton
Account Director
The Case For Mindful Reading In PR
November 20, 2019
My father worked for years as an English teacher and my mother was a college professor. During my childhood, there were books throughout the house: novels, philosophy, current events and best sellers. My parents emphasized that a big part of being a complete person was reading. Spending time with books allowed you to broaden your perception and think critically.
Those habits followed me into early adult life. In college, I majored in English literature and philosophy, which amounted to a four-year book club. After I graduated I worked for local newspapers where inveterate reading was part of the job. In my off hours, I spent time lost inside books and stories. The countless hours of reading helped make me a better writer and a critical thinker, and broadened my knowledge base. While I read for fun, all that reading made me a better writer and a better employee.
Somewhere in the early 21st century, my reading habits took a hit. The internet made it easy to digest bite-sized nuggets of information or stream a video. My once-formidable attention span eroded as I spent less time with more content. Adding to that, I entered the world of PR after spending years as a journalist. Multi-tasking wasn’t a nice extra in this career; it was an expectation. Each day started with countless emails, award applications, pitches, client counsel and strategy. Mindful reading became a luxury.
I’ve tried to make mindful reading a priority again in the past year or so – not only because I enjoy it, but because it helps me work better. We live in an age of distraction. Little wonder, then, that a working style based on constant distraction makes it challenging to do your best work. The more time I spend reading – even if it’s just 30 minutes per day – the more I carry steady, mindful habits into my work. Allowing your mind to slow down and absorb information, enables you to be better equipped to tackle a piece of client writing or a pitch in a thoughtful manner.
If your mind can absorb nuance and detail through committed reading (books and magazine articles, not listicles or social media posts) you’ll be better equipped to find crucial nuances and details in your PR practice. Finally, there is the undeniable fact that a PR practice is about language and communication. If you spend ample time with the best communicators and storytellers you will sharpen your own skills.
I’m not suggesting you turn off social media, don’t stream a video or never look at your Facebook feed. I am, however, making a case for letting your brain relax and work the way it did for centuries before technology changed everything in short order. The end result might be that you’ll become a sharper thinker and a better PR practitioner.
