Finding a book that truly captures your attention and forces you to engage in reading is such a gift, but it can also be pretty difficult at times. Many of us have busy schedules or just difficulties picking up a book and staying focused. However, the benefits of reading definitely make it worthwhile. Reading can be fun and valuable in so many ways!
Mental Health
One of the things that reading has helped me with the most is just taking care of my mental health. Our lives often feel overwhelming, and as a result, we usually pick up our phones and scroll through social media. This can leave us feeling worse about ourselves and unproductive. Reading offers an experience that can distract you from anything going on in your life. If you enjoy fiction books, it can be an escape from reality as it transports you into another world. Non-fiction books also allow you to hear a story or to educate yourself on any event that interests you. It is a great way to reduce stress since reading has been found to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress. Reading can improve your sleep schedule as well because it can calm your body to prepare you for rest.
Learning
A lot is going on in our world, and it is so important to stay informed. Gaining knowledge through a reliable article or book is much better than finding information in the mainstream media. Read about any event, past or present, and educate yourself. Finding reliable news, especially for current world events, is extremely powerful. Reading can help you obtain new perspectives while also enhancing your ability to learn. It improves memory and expands your vocabulary all while teaching you new information.
Improves Concentration
I’m sure that many people would agree that it can be difficult to sit down and just start reading a book. A lot of my friends have expressed this to me in the past. It can be hard to stay focused, and if you’re not reading the right book for you, it can be boring. We are often so consumed and overstimulated with our current technology. Social media captures our attention quickly, and the second we’re bored of one post, we can scroll to the next. I could go on and on about how social media impairs our ability to learn or to stay engaged in just about anything, but I’m sure we’ve all heard the same information. In many studies, reading has been shown to improve our concentration. It is a simple way to stimulate the brain, and it encourages you to stay actively engaged.
Connections
Reading is sure to strengthen your connections. It teaches us empathy as it forces us to consider a story from another person’s perspective. This does not mean we need to realign our own opinions each time we read a new book. Instead, we learn to understand other perspectives while still holding our own. The best way to engage in any conversation or debate is by comprehending various views. Books force us to listen to the writer, or the writer’s character, and see the world through their lens. We develop more empathy when we can consider an external perspective, and empathy leads to more genuine connections with those around us.
Finding people who enjoy similar books is one of the greatest beginnings of a friendship. You can discuss your opinions on the characters, the events, or the information that you’ve read. Reading is typically perceived as a solitary activity, yet it has sustained many of my dearest friendships. Some of my friends and I could sit and talk for hours about the books we’ve read. Reading is sure to help you build more meaningful connections with people.
Reading offers so many long-term benefits. It’s a great way to stay informed and start a conversation with the people around you. Next time you’re stressed or just want to do something in your free time, I hope you consider enjoying a good book!