6 Surprising Benefits Of Reading Books
Reading has always been a part of our lives. In an era of digital screens, the world’s reading habit also shifted from book spines and bookmarks to handheld devices and bookmarks on the web. What used to be a lengthy conversation has become limited to characters and emojis, the enticing smell of a new page has become a dim or bright screen, and sometimes. All these changes in the way we read sometimes become overwhelming for our brains to process, and may lead to digital eye strain, or a dizzying feeling instead of a relaxing one.
That is why the importance of book reading remains. A number of research continue to show that when it comes to reading, paper reading positively affects both physical and mental health more than reading on screen. If you are looking for motivation to restart your reading journey, this article will explain some of the many benefits of reading a book every day:
- Recharges your brain
- Improves focus, attention, and memory
- Provides entertainment and relaxation
- Gives you longevity
- Expands your knowledge and vocabulary
- Hone writing and communication skills
1. Recharges Your Brain
Reading exercises your brain and stimulates multiple senses that can help in understanding what you are reading.
A 2015 research has also proven that children who are better readers, and who perhaps read more than less skilled readers, exhibit different development trajectories in brain reading regions. Simply put, the more that you read, the more sophisticated and expansive your networks in the brain are, which demonstrates the enormous benefits of reading books every day.
2. Improves Focus, Attention & Memory
Reading every day allows you to be immersed in the character or the storyteller of the book, story, or novel that you are reading. It encourages you to take note of the littlest details which affect the plot of the story. You focus on the details that matter to the story which allows you to have a longer attention span.
Now that we have mentioned attention, did you know that the average human attention span decreased by nearly 25% between 2000 and 2015, and now we’re lagging behind the goldfish (9-second attention span) in terms of our ability to focus on tasks or objects? By reading every day, we can reap benefits, one is to extend our attention span and improve our ability to focus and become less distracted by the convenience of things around us.
Speaking of distractions, today’s world has made most human activities convenient. Hungry? Tap the food delivery app. Bored? Shop for a new shirt or shoes through the brand app. Too busy to stand up and read the news? Ask Alexa to give you the latest news. We depend so much on our gadgets that it has overtaken our lives.
In fact, the average person picks up their phone more than 1,500 times every week – or once every 5.5 minutes, and not only that, 39% of Americans have forgotten one basic piece of information or lost one item they use daily. That’s how distracted our brains are and it affects our memory.
When you read books every day, this could change. When indulged in deep reading, you are reminded of how many pages you’ve read and how many remain. You may flip pages to reread and the text provides a “landscape” as you read, that helps the memory center of your brain become more active.
3. Provides Entertainment & Relaxation
Reading allows us to go on an adventure in space, time, and history. As Dr. Seuss has put it, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” One benefit of reading every day is to entertain for free. Reading is something you can enjoy at home without costing too much.
Do you remember the first book that you got hooked on? Surely, you’ll never forget the character that you had in your mind as you flipped through the pages of the book, or your favorite moment that you kept playing in your head even after how many times you’ve reread it, your excitement stays the same.
Research also suggests that reading can relieve stress and provide relaxation after a long day at work. A 2009 study by Sussex University researchers showed that reading for at least six minutes may reduce stress by as much as 68 percent.
4. Gives You Longevity
Reading every day can also make you healthier and live longer. Various research has proved that reading can help with depression and dysthymia, lowering blood pressure and heart rate and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and late-life cognitive decline.
In another research, it was found that those who read books survived around 2 years longer than those who either didn’t read or who read magazines and other forms of media and also concluded that people who read more than 3 1/2 hours every week were 23 percent likely to live longer than those who didn’t read at all.
5. Expands Your Knowledge & Vocabulary
Reading every day exposes you to often difficult and unfamiliar words, that allow you to expand your knowledge as you find meaning in these words. This knowledge and vocabulary expansion will be very valuable in the coming years. In fact, researchers have found that students who read books regularly, beginning at a young age, gradually develop large vocabularies, which may predict higher intelligence later in life.
6. Hone Writing & Communication Skills
Another benefit of reading books every day is a better writing and communication skill. Reading helps us organize our thoughts in a manner that is similar to what we are reading. It influences how we write and talk and gives us a variety of words to choose from when communicating through the expanded vocabulary that we have gained from reading.
Studies also show that reading increases our ability to empathize. It allows us to relate to others’ emotions and mental states. Combined with a large vocabulary, open-mindedness, and empathy, reading can make you a great communicator.
Conclusion
It’s never too late to begin taking advantage of the many health benefits of reading. So go ahead, indulge in the pages of a book, and strut your way to a new reading adventure.