Did you know there are scientific reasons why reading is important?
There are! But for a while, a busy life and the endless distractions of the internet led me away from my reading habit. It was such a simple, pure pleasure to get back into it this year, so I thought I’d write about the benefits of reading every day.
Reading Books
Relieves Stress
Okay, I have to admit that this first one didn’t surprise me that much. According to a study at the University of Sussex, reading lowers your heart rate, eases tense muscles, and reduces your stress by up to 68%.
In fact, reading a book reduces stress even more quickly than listening to music or drinking a hot cup of tea (though you could do both of those things while you read!)
Reading Books Alleviates Depression
Several studies in the U.S., Turkey, and Japan have shown correlations between reading and increased feelings of hope (as well as decreased feelings of loneliness.) A study in England showed that regular library users were more satisfied with their lives, although they might’ve benefited from the social aspect, too.
Just those two benefits alone would be enough for me. But there are even more reasons why reading is important…
It Improves Focus
Many of us struggle with short attention spans. Reading a book causes us to slow down and focus…and several studies have shown that, in both children and adults, this focus carries over to other tasks. (This is especially important for us writers!)
It Improves Empathy
A study at Washington and Lee University showed that the act of reading actually increased people’s helpfulness. Research at the University of Winchester also found correlations between empathy and a long-time habit of reading.
It Staves Off Age-Related Decline
A 14-year-long study in Taiwan showed that regular reading significantly prevented cognitive decline in older people. Another study found that regular readers were 2.5 times less likely to develop dementia.
It Helps You Live Longer!
A Yale University study found that “book readers experienced a 20 percent reduction in risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow-up compared to non-book readers.” This is great news for me, because let’s face it—it’s going to take a while for me to get through my TBR pile.
Under the best conditions, (reading) increases neural connections and enlarges neural networks. A good book makes you a better human.
Dr. David Kaminskas, neurologist
Are there other reasons why reading is important to you, personally?
Have you been getting into reading more lately, or do you want to? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Thanks so much for stopping by!
These are some great reasons to keep reading. I shall have to tell my kids, who were both great readers until they got mid way through secondary school. I think the pressures of exams and growing up takes them away from reading, when in truth it could help them cope with everyday stresses and unwind.
Hi Suzanne! Oh yes, I think kids can be really burdened with those kinds of stresses. It’s easy for people to forget that reading is a respite and not a chore. 🙂
For me, the aha moment was when my dad asked me what I’d read lately and I looked at him with a blank look. For shame! I couldn’t remember the last book I’d read all the way through. I blame my new found love of Instagram which kind of takes over your life for the first few weeks (months) after discovery. But as an adult, I could see that it wasn’t enriching my life and was definitely making my attention span much shorter and easily distractible. Sadly, for that first week back on books, I had to really concentrate in order to settle and read without my mind wandering to other things. But I had experience on my side. I knew reading was worth the effort. In the end, it all came back to me. Besides, as a writer, I also get to claim reading as time ‘on the clock’. When it’s 2pm on a Tuesday and I’m engrossed in a book and someone asks me what I’m doing, I always reply “I’m working.”
Hi Jessica! I totally had a moment like that a couple of years ago…and it was especially embarrassing because I was working in publishing! Someone asked, “Besides the books you guys are publishing, what else have you loved recently?” and I totally drew a blank. Social media can be a real distraction for me, too, but I’m getting way better about it. And YES, as writers, when we’re reading, we’re on the clock. 🙂
I like some mystery in my reading–one reason I enjoy romantic suspense. I like to solve the case alongside the characters. I feel that it keeps my mind sharp.
Debby, I think it keeps my mind sharp, too! I’ve been getting into stories with mystery elements more and more 🙂
Reading was my solace during the pandemic.
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It’s such a perfect escape, even when you can’t go out and do anything else!
Very cool. I’ll have to file some of these away for the next time a foster kiddo asks me why I put books in their room.
Ha! I love it 🙂 And lucky kid!