What Are the Benefits of Reading?
The benefits of reading can be tough to define. Practical and poetic, they include advantages for the mind, body, and soul. When it comes to reading, it’s easy to argue that your return is proportionate to your investment. In simpler terms, the more you read, the more you profit from reading. What are the benefits of reading?
Learn About Almost Anything
Reading is a skill that opens doors. Once you master reading, you can use the skill to read and learn about almost any topic imaginable. Are you curious about gardening, cooking, making jewelry, or bookbinding? Reading is a great way to find more information. Do you want to discover more about a historical event or a famous person? A journal or biography can tell the tale.
Books are just the beginning. Novels, short stories, and poems can spark curiosity, and nonfiction tomes can be valuable resources when you’re eager to learn more about a particular subject. However, reading periodicals like newspapers and magazines also counts. The reading done while researching something that interests you on the internet is also worthwhile.
Protect Cognition and Memory
Reading may keep age-related cognitive decline away. According to Healthline, studies show that seniors who make it a point to read and solve a math problem each day maintain or improve their cognitive function. That may be why the National Institute on Aging recommends daily reading as a way for older adults to protect cognitive function.
Build Vocabulary
A bookworm is someone who is frequently found reading. They’re generally an avid reader, a dedicated student, or both. A bibliophile is a book collector. Both love books, but the bookworm loves the story and the contents of the pages. Meanwhile, the bibliophile treasures the physical book. Someone who loves reading is far more likely to know these words and many others than a nonreader. That’s because reading consistently brings you into contact with different words and encourages you to consider the small differences in their meanings. This helps you to learn new words and reinforces your understanding of older words in a way that memorizing vocabulary lists never could. A better vocabulary makes you a stronger communicator, which can make social interactions easier.
Sleep Better
Quality sleep can be hard to come by. When you crave it, experts recommend establishing a consistent routine that prepares your body for bed. One activity that regularly makes the list of suggestions is reading. Reading before bed can help you unwind and signal to your brain and body that the time for sleep is approaching. Avoid picking up anything too exciting for your nightly reading. After all, postponing your bedtime so you can read one more chapter will mean less sleep.
Reduce Stress
When life gets unpleasant or monotonous, reading can provide a welcome escape. When you pick up a book, it’s easy to take a trip back in time, to another planet, to another country, to the future, or to a place that exists only in the imagination. Spending time enjoying the adventures of favorite characters allows you to explore new ideas, perspectives, and concepts safely. Reading is known for building empathy and reducing anxiety.
Live Longer
When you want to live longer, making healthy choices is important. That means you should eat right, exercise, and read books. According to a 2016 study, reading books actually does provide a survival advantage — book readers outlive their peers by 23 months.