In the age of information, it’s difficult to want to read anything longer than 140 characters. The same goes for watching anything that’s longer than a minute.
The antidote to all of this might be taking more time to slow down and get back to the basics. Picking up a book and taking some time to slow down can do a lot of good.
What good does reading more books and articles bring? Read on and we’ll walk you through some major benefits of reading every day.
1. Good for Mental Health
Studies show that reading can actually increase the synapses of your brain, effectively rewiring it which can help prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Challenging your mind through reading is proven to train the mind better and improve neural function.
Reading can help keep you mentally healthy as you get older. It’s been proven to help fight off dementia and other such diseases. It brings many of the same benefits as meditation and yoga—it’s like exercising for your brain.
It can even help the brain fight off depression and other similar maladies.
2. Relieves Stress
We all tend to get a little stressed now and again when managing the ins and outs of our daily lives.
Reading a great novel can transport you and take you away from your daily life and struggles. It can put you in a totally different headspace which can help to push troubled thoughts away and relax you.
Research shows that reading fiction is more effective at reducing stress than listening to music, drinking tea, and even walking. Reading engaging stories, especially fiction, helps your heart rate slow down and relaxes your muscles.
So next time you have a headache or backache, try preventing it by reading a good book.
3. Increases Emotional Intelligence
Did you know reading can increase your sense of empathy and emotional intelligence? This is just one of the many scientific benefits of reading. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognize your own feelings and others and manage between those different feelings.
Higher EQs in individuals are linked to better teamwork, less anxiety, and improved relationships. Psychologists call this “theory of mind” where reading about narratives and lives different from yours can allow one to understand different perspectives better.
Multiple things can be true at once, allowing you to understand a multiplicity of experiences and feelings better.
4. Expands Vocabulary
Reading more is an effective tool for expanding your vocabulary and comprehension skills. The better vocabulary you have, the better kind of communicator you become.
Next time you’re sitting down with a good book, grab a dictionary and a pen. You can circle words you aren’t familiar with and look them up. Create a list of unfamiliar words and their definitions and refer to them daily.
Chances are, the more you do this, the better you become at using these new words in your everyday life.
5. Improves Memory
While reading a book, you explore a new world of information and have to commit to remembering a variety of key details like characters, locations, facts, sub-plots, and more. These are all details not pertinent to one’s own life, but outside of your life experiences. Reading can assist in the development of your short-term and long-term memory.
Just like your muscles grow and strengthen the more you use them, mental exercise does the same thing for your memory.
So the next time you find yourself having trouble finding your glasses or keys, maybe it’s time you hit the books and sharpen that mental acuity.
6. Helps You Sleep Better
There’s no better feeling than drifting off to sleep while reading a good book. In this day and age, it’s so common to want to scroll on your phone before bed. But this stimulates your brain and effectively puts off your bedtime. Next time, grab a book instead and find that it’s so much easier to fall asleep.
Reading can be a wonderful bedtime activity and there are so many benefits of reading before bed.
Better yet, make bedtime stories a habit with the children in your life. Reading together can be a great bonding activity that can encourage you both to have a greater love for reading.
There are many great benefits of reading to children, including improving their vocabulary and logic skills while creating pleasant and warm associations to the activity.
Even if you’re traveling and can’t carry a book with you, you can always try reading on a device before bed. E-book devices are designed with your health in mind and can provide a great reading experience before bed.
You can read more here about downloading ebooks for your travels.
7. Improves Your Writing
The more you read, especially books and materials that are particularly well-composed and well-written, the better you become at absorbing different writing styles.
This can help you understand and recognize what makes good writing, effectively helping you subconsciously emulate it. The more you read, the better quality your writing becomes.
Reading novels and short stories can also help you practice and study grammar without having to seek out help from a textbook. From punctuation use to sentence structure, you’ll learn inherently what clear communication looks like.
Understanding the Benefits of Reading Every Day
You don’t need to radically shift the way you live life in order to fit more reading time into your schedule. You can do it before bedtime, while you’re waiting for your next appointment, or when you just have some leisure time.
Next time you want to read on your phone and scroll through social media, try grabbing a book instead. There are many great benefits of reading every day that you can enjoy.
You can buy books from second-hand stores, borrow from friends, or take a trip to your local library. The possibilities are endless.
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