10 Benefits of Reading Books
We have all heard that reading is beneficial, but do you know why? We put together 10 reasons why you should read a book today.
Mental Stimulation
Your brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy, just like all muscles in your body. Reading has been found to enhance connectivity in the brain. A decline in memory and brain function is a side effect of aging, but regular reading may help slow the process. Keeping your brain active and engaged can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Stress Relief
When reading, you must focus on the characters and the plot of the book. The distraction into the literary world allows you to distance yourself from the stress of everyday life, putting your mind and body at ease. Loosing yourself in a great story can be a perfect remedy for stress.
More Sleep
Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep when your mind is racing and busy worrying about a variety of things. Reading, even if just for ten minutes, can help you push whatever was keeping you awake out of your mind. Bright lights from electronic devices can signal your brain that it is time to wake up. Reading under a dim light can be much more beneficial when trying to get some sleep. We recommend making sure the book isn’t a page-turner first!
Education
Education is not cheap. Classes, seminars and educational software are just a few of the ways that you can pay to learn things. However, reading books from the library is free! If you find a topic that you would like to learn more about, there is a high probability that we have a book available that can help.
Better Memory
A book has many different components. A plot, characters, dialogue and settings are just a few of those things. Reading requires you to use your memory muscle, helping the muscle long term. Exercising your brain in mentally challenging ways can lead to a slower rate of decline in memory.
Increases Empathy
Reading requires us to sympathize with character’s emotions. Being “emotionally transported” by a book has been shown to cause boosts in empathy. Specifically, studies have found that reading fiction helps readers understand what other’s are thinking by reading people’s emotions.
Improves Concentration
In today’s world, our attention is often drawn in a million different directions at once. When reading, you are concentrating on one thing. By doing so, you are training your body to avoid distractions. This ability can help when performing other tasks that require concentration.
Entertainment
Reading is much cheaper than going to the movies or many other forms of entertainment. In fact, reading is free at the library! We are constantly adding new books, so you never have to worry about running out of ones that you haven’t read. Books can transport you to different worlds, all with the added benefit of not having to pay airfare.
Vocabulary Expansion
The more you read, the more words you are exposed to. Being well-spoken and articulate can help increase job performance and self-esteem. Exposure to well-written work can also have a huge impact on your own writing. You may notice that the language in children’s books are likely to be more sophisticated than your average conversation.
Reading is Contagious
If you have made it to the bottom of this list, you are now aware of many of the benefits of reading. Did you know that you can help others by reading? Many parents and adults wish that their family read more. Exposing them to your reading habits can be a great way to help encourage them to pick up a book. If you have children in elementary school, consider reading out loud to them even if they can read on their own. Studies show that doing so can help inspire them to become frequent readers.
Sources
- www.naturalbeachliving.com
- www.lifehack.org
- lifedev.net
- www.huffingtonpost.com
- www.realsimple.com
- www.bustle.com
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