Although you may have been instilled with the knowledge of reading’s value at an early age, more and more Americans are reading less books overall, which raises concerns about the potential health effects.
Twenty-three percent of American adults in 2021, according to a Pew Research Center study, said they did not read any portion of a book in print or digital format in the preceding year. It’s the same story for kids: according to the Pew Research Center, the percentage of 9- to 13-year-olds who read “for enjoyment” is at a record low.
Also, although reading in any format is helpful, some studies have shown that paper books may be preferable to digital formats because they help readers better remember specific details and the big picture of a tale. However, the research suggests that understanding may be comparable between the two. Although reading nonfiction might help improve a person’s language abilities, reading literary fiction may provide even greater advantages, such as increased empathy and enhanced critical thinking, as reported by Harvard Business Review.
Living a book may not be high on your list of priorities if you have a hectic schedule and a seemingly unending list of chores. Nonetheless, you might always rethink that.
The health advantages of reading and how to integrate it into your daily life are outlined in this article in seven different methods.
1. Reading Books Can Help You Manage Stress
Reading may assist relieve stress while dealing with a mental health problem, and that relief may carry over into daily life.
A doctor from New Mexico argues that reading may help relieve stress by giving a welcome break from the pressures of everyday living. When you become engrossed in a good book, your heart rate drops and your breathing slows. Decreases in heart rate and blood pressure have been linked to improved sensations of well-being.
Licensed clinical psychologist and employee of Jewish Family Services of Greenwich in Connecticut, Holly Schiff, PsyD, echoes similar ideas. In contrast to watching a movie or television programme, “with a book,” as Dr. Schiff puts it, “you are constructing the pictures yourself, and this engagement makes it that much more compelling.” It’s a tool for dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or any other negative state of mind. Reading is therapeutic because it transports you to another world and forces you to suspend disbelief and forget your troubles; it can also be life-changing by opening your eyes to new perspectives and offering new ways of looking at and interacting with the world and other people.
These advantages seem to be supported by research. Reading, even for just 30 minutes at a time, was shown to be useful in reducing acute stress in a prior research on different stress management approaches for students. The positive benefits of comedy and yoga were shown to be quite comparable.
2. Reading May Improve Your Mental Well-Being
The National Alliance on Mental Illness claims that reading is good for mental health since it provides a relaxing distraction from daily life. Reading books has been linked to positive outcomes in teenage mental health, including less stress and improved outlook.
According to Schiff, “bibliotherapy is useful for treating depression because it promotes emotional knowledge and self-awareness.” She also stresses the value of reading to combat isolation, as it may be cathartic to relate to others’ stories.
3. Books Increase Comprehension and Vocabulary in Young Readers
Reading books, whether aloud to a newborn or toddler or independently by a kid of any age, is beneficial because it promotes the development of language skills. In addition to assisting with the development of reading abilities in general, this may also be useful in the everyday lives of young readers.
More exposure to words increases the likelihood that you will learn them and be able to utilise them in your own speech and writing, as prof. Williams puts it. For kids, who are still developing their language abilities, this is a huge boon. Plus, it’s a great way to spend quality time with your kid(s) and strengthen your relationship.
Reading to infants improves their language development and exposes them to more vocabulary than they would hear in normal speech, says the Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, it has been shown that the sooner you introduce reading to a young kid, the greater their chances of doing well in school.
Research has also shown a link between expanding one’s vocabulary and improving one’s ability to understand what they read. Longitudinal research has shown that both reading experience and understanding are significant determinants of vocabulary, with “excellent” comprehension being related with great vocabulary abilities and vice versa.
4. Reading Helps Adolescents With Self-Identity
Adolescence is mostly defined by the maturation of an individual’s sense of self. Reading may have a part in developing a sense of who you are, in addition to life experiences, maturation, and interpersonal connections.
According to Schiff, “reading helps adolescents and teenagers build insight into growing and being an adult,” which in turn improves their academic achievement, social participation, and personal growth. It is essential to devote time and energy to discovering who you are at this moment in your life. They learn about the importance of adult relationships, friendships, personal beliefs, and cultural identity by reading fiction. All of these factors have a role in the development from childhood to adulthood.
Evidence suggests that adolescents may get cognitive advantages from brain alterations that impact decision-making and other essential activities because of the emphasis placed on self-identity development in the literature.
5. Reading Increases Empathy and May Improve Relationships
Reading to a young child has benefits for their cognitive growth that go beyond only facilitating their acquisition of language. You may always improve your reading comprehension and comprehension abilities.
The capacity to empathise with another person, to experience what they feel, is a cornerstone of healthy social and interpersonal interactions. Reading fiction, in particular, has been linked to social-cognitive benefits that may translate to success in the real world.
Williams argues that “reading about the lives and experiences of others might give us a broader insight into their ideas and emotions.” Understanding our own feelings and those of others might help us become more empathetic and accepting people.
Schiff further discusses how reading fiction might increase compassion. She thinks that this experience “helps expose you to living conditions that might be extremely different from your own.” The way you interact with other people in the actual world may change as a result. By reading, we may safely and dispassionately put ourselves in the shoes of another person.
Moreover, studies have shown that fiction reading improves “theory of mind,” or the awareness that other people have perspectives and motivations that are different from one’s own. The ability to understand and empathise with another person’s point of view is seen as crucial not just for successful interpersonal interactions, but also for the health of any society as a whole.
6. Reading Improves Cognitive Function — Even as You Age
Reading books isn’t only good for kids since it helps them learn and grow mentally, but it may aid people of all ages, too. Cognitive decline in old age may be mitigated by engaging in cognitive-related activities on a consistent basis beginning in infancy and continuing into maturity. The act of reading books is one that may be beneficial.
Schiff claims that reading keeps your brain active and avoids memory loss since it is a cognitive activity. According to studies, reading improves brain health by delivering more oxygen and glucose to its cells. It’s also linked to enhanced brainpower and has been shown to slow the ageing process and prevent memory loss.
Schiff also suggests that reading may protect against the accumulation of harmful beta-amyloid in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease, a kind of dementia associated with ageing, is characterised by these. “Brain activity is supposed to develop reserves of healthy brain cells and connections between them, and this may explain why mental stimulation may halt the course of Alzheimer’s,” she explains. As the brain is able to compensate for the damage produced by Alzheimer’s, the development of dementia may be postponed. “By creating this brain reserve, it may help compensate for the damage caused by Alzheimer’s.”
Reading and other mental pursuits may help put off or prevent dementia, according to one research. Cognitive advantages were also seen in individuals of advanced age, demonstrating that it is never too late to start enjoying the rewards of engaging in activities such as reading.
7. Reading Books May Help You Live Longer
Besides maintaining a healthy lifestyle with exercise and a balanced diet, the mental benefits of reading books may also contribute to a longer life span. One research found that those who read books lived an average of 23 months longer than people who didn’t.
The act of reading books alone cannot take the place of other preventative measures. In any case, it’s easy to see how reading may help you live a longer and more meaningful life when you take into account all of the advantages described above, including the positive effects on your brain, your social life, and your mental health.
