Put Down Your Phone, Pick Up A Book

Remember when visiting a local bookstore was a thing? 150 words on the back covers were enough to decide our next adventure.

We lived in a world rich with authentic experiences and genuine connections. 

But now, we find ourselves inundated by a barrage of Instagram reels and clickbaity captions that scream for our attention—promising the "5 must-reads of 2024" or "books you can't miss before you turn 30." We have limitless options and endless opinions, which ends up making the choice even tougher.

We spend hours scrolling through these lists, often without even starting to read.

4 months ago, when I joined Parallel, I was introduced to the most exciting part of their office—

The Office Library, a wall of wisdom dedicated to learning and giving us a break from the routine.

Need a break from the screen? Feeling creative? Settle in a corner and get lost in a gripping story.

The concept is simple: You pick a book you want to read, borrow it, and log your entry in a dedicated Excel sheet. The library has many books on product design, business, workplace culture, women's empowerment, and productivity. It's all about learning, growing, and escaping the daily grind for a moment.

At Parallel, our culture has always been focused on making reading a crucial part of everyday routine. We prioritize it while keeping it enjoyable, without making it stressful and tedious. Reading exposes everyone to diverse perspectives, and we’re always trying to open our minds to new ideas and the best UX (or marketing) practices.

With so much noise and content on the web, we must step back and get our fundamental rights. More than that, it gives everyone a much-needed break from their screens.

The Importance of Disconnecting from Screens During A Work Day

A study into screen time at work has revealed that office workers spend an average of 6+ hours a day sitting at their computers or laptops. This does not even count the time we spend on other apps. Imagine how much time we spend in front of screens, detaching ourselves from the real world. 

Doom scrolling is killing our brains slowly, with instant gratification. If we start to replace doom scrolling with reading, it could do wonders for our mental health. Not only does reading improve your critical thinking and creativity, but it also helps increase your vocabulary, knowledge, and imagination.

At Parallel, we’re all about breaking free from our screens and getting into the habit of daily reading. They don’t just throw books at us and hope for the best; they actively push us to dive in and really engage.

Here are two fun ways we foster our reading culture:

• Book Clubs: Every week for an hour, people at Parallel sit together and read. They can pick any book from the library that interests them. This is followed by a discussion encouraging collaboration, critical thinking, and exchanging ideas.

• Borrowing Books: You can pick any book from the library, log it into the system, and read it at your own pace. This approach allows you to delve deeper into specific areas of interest and expand your knowledge base.

The curated book collection at Parallel is about hitting the sweet spot for different design needs and interests.

Here's a glimpse into a few of my favorites:

• Don't Make Me Think, Steve Krug

From our Founder’s must-read collections, the book that inspired him ​to be a designer and start Parallel. This classic guide by UX guru Steve Krug emphasizes the importance of clear and intuitive user interfaces.

• Sprint, Jake Knapp

At Parallel, we regularly offer AI design sprints to our potential clients, and this book helped introduce us to the "Sprint" methodology—a robust framework for rapidly solving design challenges and validating ideas. This book is another that almost every designer at Parallel picks up to understand how sprints can overcome challenges in various companies: healthcare, fitness, finance, retailers, and more.

• The Art of Noticing, Rob Walker

When I picked up this one, I knew I was in for something that would spark my creativity. Through a series of simple and playful exercises—131—Walker maps ways to become a more precise thinker, a better listener, a more creative workplace colleague, and finally, to rediscover what matters to you.

• On Writing Well, William Zinsser

Whether you want to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts, or yourself in the increasingly popular memoir genre, On Writing Well offers fundamental principles and insights of a distinguished writer and teacher.

• How Women Rise, Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith

This insightful book identifies specific behaviors that keep women from realizing their full potential, no matter what stage they are in their careers. It will also help them determine why what worked for them in the past will not necessarily get them where they want to go in the future–and how to finally shed those behaviors so they can advance to the next level, whatever that may be.

Parallel’s library has helped me escape doom scroll and pick up a book during work, taking a break from my screen. It felt like a breath of fresh air for my creativity and mental well-being.

With book clubs, a killer curated library, and constant encouragement from the team, I've felt more empowered to break out of my daily grind and expand my horizons.

So next time you find yourself reaching for your phone during a break, consider grabbing a book instead. You might surprise yourself with all the things you can find that challenge and inspire you.