In a world that celebrates productivity, even rest can feel like something to earn. Reading is a gentle act of rebellion, a way of telling yourself you matter. A book offers calm, connection, and a moment of care, reminding you that slowing down is not a luxury. It is essential.

Rituals are anchors. They slow us down and bring intention to the everyday. When reading becomes part of your daily rhythm, it stops feeling like a task and starts feeling like nourishment. Even ten minutes with a book can calm the mind, strengthen focus, and create a moment of care in a noisy world.

Stories are one of humanity’s oldest survival tools. Long before books or screens, tales were shared around fires to teach, connect, and make sense of the world. Today, neuroscience confirms what we have always known: storytelling changes the brain. It soothes, heals, and helps us see through another’s eyes. Making time for stories has never mattered more.

Once, reading was simple. We curled up under the covers with a torch, staying up far too late to finish ‘just one more chapter.’ Somewhere along the way, that connection faded. The books are still there, but the world has changed… and so have our brains. In an age of endless scrolling, deep reading feels harder than ever, but it’s also more essential than we realise.

In early 2025, I realised my bedtime ritual had become predictable: scroll TikTok, watch videos of strangers surfing huge waves, and maybe open a book that felt like homework. I’d always loved reading, but it had turned into another task on my list. Then a friend recommended a book with real excitement. I finished it in a day, and suddenly scrolling didn’t matter. The world felt brighter, sharper, like stories had given me a new lens to see life through. That joy is what sparked Swelv: a way to make reading feel effortless, addictive in the best way, and worth sharing.

Think libraries are just quiet rooms full of old books? Think again. Your local library is a space full of possibilities, adventures, and resources, many of which do not require you to be a bookworm.

Ever feel like you should read more but just do not? Maybe books feel slow, intimidating, or like something only bookworms do. The truth is, you do not need to be a reader to get huge benefits from stories. Even a few minutes can help you relax, learn, or connect and it does not require committing to a 400-page novel.

If you’ve ever wished a story could perfectly capture your mood, whether you’re feeling nostalgic, adventurous, or just reflective, there’s a way to do it. By giving ChatGPT a few clear prompts, you can generate short stories that feel personal, immersive, and just right for how you’re feeling in the moment. Think of it as stepping into a tiny world made just for you.

Most of us remember the ritual: a parent tucking us in, opening a book, and reading just long enough for our eyelids to start drooping. Those bedtime stories weren’t just cute routines. They were small, intentional pockets of calm that shaped our brains, emotions, and sleep.

If you’re feeling burnt out, exhausted, or just fried, take a deep breath. We’re about to unpack what happens in your brain and body when stress takes over and, more importantly, what actually works to recharge.

Remember the last time you got lost in a book? Not just “read a chapter before bed” lost. I mean the kind where you look up and realise hours have passed, your tea’s gone cold, and you’ve been living in someone else’s world.

For a lot of us, that kind of reading has slipped away. Life sped up. Our attention splintered into pings, feeds, and news alerts. We skim headlines. We scroll. We move on.

From Nigeria to Brazil, from India to Mexico, from Berlin to Florence, Manila to Seoul, foreign press worldwide testifies to a remarkable surge in reading during these turbulent times.