Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

I will admit this now. I’m not much of a reader. However, I do like audio books, particularly ones read by the author and stories which are short and about our lived experiences.

At the moment, I’m reading (or should I say listening to) Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. I honestly love the mix of compassion and candidness in Cheryl’s writing. The stories shared in this book from both her and the people who have written to her alter ego “Sugar” for life advice are so moving.

I also just finished reading another book called Alone – Journeys Inside the Solo Life, which is a collection of fictional stories from Scottish writers about the experience of loneliness. This book is a bit more hard hitting, but does so with a sprinkling of Scottish humour. I was delighted to receive this book in the post from Jo Chumas the driver and publisher behind this book. It is great to see her passion for Scottish writers and independent publishing.

So why am I writing about stories? Stories, like music and other creative outlets are a powerful way to connect us and can give us an escape. It’s also a beautiful way to share our human experiences and help us to feel less alone.

Towards the end of 2022 we embarked on a new collaboration with a writer, called Neil Bebber, to bring bedtime stories to Kindspace, and I’m delighted to share that this week we went live with the full collection of stories. This new collection very much focuses on lived experiences and are designed to help you destress at the end of a busy day. I really hope you love them as much as I do. In this blog, I’ll give you an overview of the new content on Kindspace and also discuss some of the benefits of short stories for your wellbeing.

What’s new on Kindspace

There are ten stories in our new collection of bedtime stories from author Neil Bebber. Each story will take you on a journey, help you to relax and offer you a bit of escapism.

Originally devised as a podcast series, called Short Stories for Stressed Grown-ups, to help people through the covid-19 lockdowns, Neil’s story telling is calming, uplifting and with a sprinkling of nostalgia. Here’s how he describes the series of stories.

“Remember when you were a kid? And how it felt to be all tucked up and have a story read to you? What a shame that, as adults, we don’t get to enjoy the sheer, indulgent escapism of those moments anymore. Well, now that’s changed. Whether you use these stories to help you get off to sleep, or to re-set in the middle of a busy day, every story is written just for you.”

So, are you ready to be transported from the troubles of your day? Here’s what we have in store for you!

Across the Universe – Take some time out with Sam to relax, as he goes on a brief trip across the universe…

Outside – Take eight minutes to relax and de-stress and join Eve, as an unexpected event in her life becomes the catalyst for her to realise her childhood dream…

Mermaid – Join James as he ventures out into the big blue, intent on realising a lifelong fantasy…

Peak – Today’s the perfect day for Edith to fulfil her promise and make it to the peak, whatever happens…

Drift – When Simon signed up for a chance to represent the entire human race, he had no idea what lay ahead, as he drifted through space…

Swan – Alice knew that all she had to do was keep pedalling, not fall overboard and trust that he’d be there, waiting…

Den – Tom’s friends all live in the city, but the city is so grey, not like out here in the countryside, where he’s always surrounded by colour. There’s always something new to discover. And so many places to build the perfect den…

Forage – When Beth set out with her old ice-cream tub and her custom-made tool, she had no idea if the place would still be there. But, if it was, the kitchen was going to be full of amazing smells later…

Rain – Matt’s been coming back here to the same place, on the same night, for seventeen years. And, as he drives through the rain, he can’t wait to get cosy with a cup of tea and just listen to the sound of it hammering down on the roof…

Clouds – Spend a while with Will and Luna as they try to make sense of the ever changing clouds that slowly roll by overhead…

To access the stories on Kindspace, open the app by saying “Alexa, open Kindspace”, then choose a ‘wellness activity’, then choose a ‘creative exercise’, and then choose ‘short stories’. Or if you already have the app on your Amazon account, you can just say “Alexa, ask Kindspace for short stories”. Note that because there are ten stories, we list out the titles in batches so as not to overwhelm you with too many choices, so you’ll hear the first three choices, then can ask for more to hear the next three choices and then can say more to hear the last four choices. Or if you know the name of the story you want (because perhaps you’ve read this blog and like the sound of one of the stories above) then just tell Alexa the name of the story you want, instead of reviewing the choices.

Why are short stories so powerful?

In my last blog I talked about the power of music and I think there are a lot of similarities with stories. Short stories in particular have some significant benefits, including:

1. They don’t take long to read: Short stories are designed to be read in one sitting, which allows you to immerse yourself in the story without distractions or interruptions. They are usually easier to read as they typically centre around a single event or character.
2. They help to explore new ideas: Short stories are a great way to experiment and try out different styles of writing or genres. They can also be very powerful at opening up discussions around important topics as they are so accessible.
3. They leave room for interpretation: Short stories often leave the ending open, which can make the story more thought-provoking. They encourage you to use your imagination to think about what might happen next to the characters or how the narrative might develop further.
4. They provide an escape: Short stories can offer a temporary escape from the stresses of daily life by transporting the reader to another world or time.
5. They can provide a creative outlet: Writing your own short stories can be both enjoyable and therapeutic. Short stories can tap into your imagination and help you to be more creative, which can help boost mood and reduce stress.

Overall, short stories can provide a valuable source of comfort and inspiration, whether that’s using them as a form of escapism, to reflect, or as a creative outlet there’s something for everyone.

Can stories be a form of therapy?

Storytelling has been used for millennia as a means of connecting with others and building positive mental health.

Research that suggests that reading short stories can have a positive impact on mood and stress levels. Indeed, there is a whole field called bibliotherapy that utilises literature including poetry, stories and drama to treat mental health conditions. A paper published in the Frontiers in Public Health journal that collectively reviewed 13 different studies to look at the effectiveness of bibliotherapy on different mental health problems, and found some evidence of benefits. While more research is needed to fully understand the mental health benefits of short stories, the existing research suggests that they can be a useful tool for promoting mental wellbeing. The paper referenced above provides a roadmap to best practices that should be implemented when offering bibliotherapy and researching its benefits.

The process of telling, listening to or discussing short stories can be therapeutic in several ways:

1. They help people express emotions: Often, people find it difficult to say how they feel. However, hearing or reading a story that reflects your experiences can help you better understand and express your feelings.
2. They provide a safe space: Storytelling can create a safe space for you to share your experiences without fear of judgment or rejection. This can be especially beneficial for those who have experienced trauma or who struggle with social anxiety.
3. They encourage self-reflection: Stories can help you gain insight into your own life or see things from a different perspective. Short stories often leave room for interpretation and reflection, which can help you process your own thoughts and emotions.
4. They promote empathy and connection: Stories focus on characters and their experiences, which can help us to develop a deeper empathy and understanding for others. Stories show us that we are not alone and help us to feel connected with humanity.

All of the above can help people who are maybe struggling with personal issues such as depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, a past trauma or a difficult decision or experience they are going through.

Key Takeaways

Making time for reading can bring you significant health benefits, even if all you can manage is 5-10 minutes a day. If you do have problems getting off to sleep something like a soothing audio story before bed can be beneficial, so you might like to try something like Kindspace or a sleep podcast.

As I said at the start, I’m not usually a big reader. However, I do love discovering new things, so if you have any recommendations of new reads for me that are in a similar theme to what I’ve discussed here that would amazing.

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