Books are everywhere. Libraries big and small and bookstores are splattered all over college campuses and larger cities. They are all filled with one of the most important things of all time—books. Those who read books appreciate the multiple places to find books. Those who aren’t fans of books, don’t understand what could make readers want to obsess over books. There is a reason for their obsession, though. You hear it all the time: read every day.
Though reading might
seem like simple fun, it can be helping your body and mind without you even
realizing what is happening. Reading can be more important for these reasons
and not just knowledge. For those who don’t enjoy reading, you might
change your mind after hearing about the benefits. Can something so easy and
fun as reading be so helpful in your life? Of course, it can! Reading can be a
great benefit to you in many different ways—such as sharpening your mind,
imagination, and writing skills. With so many advantages of reading, it
should be an everyday occurrence to read at least a little something.
Importance of Reading Books
The importance of
reading is completely undeniable. The next time someone asks you: “Why is
reading important?” you will have an educated and thorough
answer to respond with. If you’re not the biggest fan of books, that’s ok!
You’re not alone! But before you shut down books and reading all together, take
the time to learn more about the importance of reading and all the incredible
benefits that come with it.
Reading is important
because it develops our thoughts, gives us endless knowledge and lessons while
keeping our minds active. Books can hold and keep all kinds of
information, stories, thoughts and feelings unlike anything else in this
world. The importance of a book to help us learn and understand things
cannot be underestimated.
Can words, paragraphs,
and fictional worlds be all that great for you and your health? It definitely
can, and reading is a timeless form of entertainment and information.
In fact, for years
reading was the only form of personal entertainment, and perhaps this is why
reading has been in the spotlight for such a long time. Reading has survived
the years, and luckily, the benefits have survived right along with the books.
So let’s talk about some reasons why reading is so important.
The benefits of reading range from improving mental health, to improving physical health, to creating healthy habits, and it’s no wonder that books and reading are so high up on the list of personal entertainment. Though books have been around for an incredibly long time, they have not lost their importance throughout the years. Below are a few of the fantastic benefits of picking up a good book and immersing yourself in words.
1. Cognitive Mental Stimulation and Brain Exercising
Reading is great fun
for many people, but it also has many benefits for your mental health in the
form of thinking and understanding. By concentrating on the words and the
storyline, it stimulates your brain and cognitive functions. This particular
stimulation can help sharpen your mind, especially the part of the brain that
is responsible for concentration and critical analysis. Reading sharpens this
part of the brain much like you would sharpen a knife. This sharpening of the
mind will eventually heighten your focus when concentrating on something
important.
How does reading sharpen your mind, though? It sharpens your mind through
stimulation of the brain. By causing you to focus intensely on the words, your
brain takes in a significant amount of information, which can improve both your
critical thinking and analyzation skills as well. This stimulation is healthy
for your mind and the sharpening your thought processes. Isn’t it amazing how a
book can do that? Of course, some of the most successful people in the world
read every day and they understand that knowledge is key. So it may be time to
heed their advice if you want to be closer to your dream.
Reading doesn’t just
help with your critical thinking, but it also improves your brain function.
Consider what happens when you work a muscle every day. That muscle grows and
becomes much stronger than before. Reading works much the same way for your
mind. The constant stimulation of the brain that reading provides is similar to
the exercise required to work a muscle; it strengthens the separate parts of
the brain that control your thinking and analyzing skills.
2. Vocabulary and Knowledge Expansion
When reading, you
might come across a few words you don’t quite understand or even recognize.
This confusion can lead you to look up the word and discover the definition.
Dictionaries, both in book form or eBook form, can be beneficial to your understanding
this new word you might not recognize. Because you didn’t know the word, to
begin with, the act of searching for the definition helps your brain retain
that new and exciting word. Consider how far your vocabulary has come since you
first learned to read. You now know many new words that are more intelligent
sounding than when you first started reading.
What does this do to
benefit you? Well, after several days of reading and looking up new words you
don’t understand, your vocabulary will begin to expand one word at a time.
Words and phrases, when reading every day, fill your brain with a new
vocabulary that you might never have learned without reading. This is proven in
this study by the University
Of Oregon.
Often, you might not
even realize how much your vocabulary has increased after even just one day of
heavy reading. These words that you have been learning will begin to integrate
themselves into your everyday vocabulary, and you will start to catch yourself
using these words. It is incredible how much you take in while reading, and
this aspect of understanding is another significant benefit of daily reading.
3. Stress and Tension Relief
Most people know from
experience that reading is a great form of entertainment, but what you and
those other people might not realize is that reading can help lower stress levels. You read that little
fact right, though it seems strange to say. The act of reading and focusing on
the written word can help relieve your mind of anxiety and the pressures of the
day. By pulling your mind away from the stress at hand, you can relax and let
the stress melt away.
Reading sounds almost
too good to be true, but how does reading decrease stress? While reading, your
brain immediately transports itself to a different world with different people.
This change in pace can be a breath of fresh air for someone who is stressed
out or suffers from extended periods of stress. By reading, you can allow
yourself to take a breath, relax, and be swept away to another world through
the words written on the page.
Stress can affect many
parts of your daily life, and after long periods of intense stress, it can even
be harmful to your overall health. Reading, both novels, and other literature
can help solve the issues that stress causes by allowing your mind and body to
relax. Once you start reading, you will start to focus, not on your stress, but
on the words and storyline. In time, reading will lower your stress level,
making you feel better mentally and physically.
4. Helps with Depression and Dysthymia
Reading, especially
self-help books, can help ward off depressive occurrences. Just like with
lowering your stress levels, reading stimulates the part of the brain
that deals with depression as well. Self-help books, full of
information about how to better yourself and your state of mind, can help ease
depression. Reading books can be extremely beneficial for someone who might
suffer from depressive tendencies but not enough to need medication.
You can find self-help
books at any bookstore or online bookshop. They aren’t the only books that can
help ease the depressive tendencies of some, however. Novels, short stories,
magazine articles, and non-fiction books can also contribute to ease these
tendencies. By reading, you are focusing, not on the things causing your
depression, but things that can give you something else to consider. You are
then no longer worried about your depressive state, but instead, you are
focused on the story.
Decreasing depression
might seem like an odd benefit of reading, but the stimulation of the brain is
extremely helpful when it comes to easing something of this nature. The feeling
of happiness that also comes from reading can brighten your mood, helping your
day turn from sad to happy. Of course, reading is not a permanent fix for a
serious problem, but it can help ease the difficulties of depression. Reading
literature works much like a pain reliever might relieve joint pain.
5. Memory Improvement and Better Focus
Though it has been
mentioned earlier about how reading can improve concentration and critical
thinking, there is another part of mental health that reading helps to improve.
This point is stated by NCU on their blog. Reading at least a little each day can improve your
focus and your memory function. In this instance as well, reading stimulates
the brain, particularly the part of the brain that helps with memory and
attention. Just like with physical exercise, reading is a form of mental
exercise that pushes your memory and focus to the limits.
Simple reading
comprehension improves your memory function. Remember the tests in elementary
school where you were tested to see how much you retained while reading those
short stories. Well, the reading comprehension as an adult works the same way.
While reading, your brain is constantly retaining pieces of information about
the story. Because the part of the brain that controls memory is stimulated, it
acts like exercise for this part of the brain, resulting in improved memory.
How does your focus
improve through reading? Your focus is strengthened through reading because it
requires focus to read. When sitting down to read a book or article, you will
not understand what you are reading unless you’re focused. Consider what it is
like when doing a math problem. To get it correct, you have to focus intently
on that problem. The same goes for reading. Again, like the memory function in
your brain, your focus is exercised, which helps to improve your overall focus.
6. Strengthens Your Writing Abilities
Reading doesn’t just
have health benefits; reading has benefits for other aspects of your life as
well. These advantages help to make readers well-rounded individuals. Those who
write, know the importance of reading. Whether you write things for work or just
for fun, heavy reading can improve your writing skills and abilities. There are
several ways in which reading can help strengthen your writing skills, and each
of these ways happens without you even realizing it.
- Why Is Reading and
Writing Important?
Writers are often big
readers as well because they seek the fulfilment of reading. By concentrating
on the way novels and other books are set up and written, you can mimic these
styles, thus improving your writing skills considerably. Studying the writing of
others is a great tool, especially if you enjoy writing. Even best-selling
authors use this tool for studying writing styles and themes.
The best part about
reading about how to improve your writing is there are various books written
about the writing craft with information about all forms of writing. You can
find these self-help books at any bookstore, both online and in store. If you
are a serious writer, you can read either novels or these amazing books on
writing. Any form of reading can improve your writing tremendously.
7. Enhances Your Imagination and Empathy
Although
the enhancement of your imagination is not one of the more common
benefits, reading can significantly increase your imagination. Consider the
worlds that you are immersed to and the characters you come across while
reading a novel. Because of these worlds and characters, the part of your brain
which houses your imagination is stimulated, causing you to imagine what the
places and people look like just by picturing the words.
When you begin reading
a book, you usually don’t have a picture in your head right at the start. By
the time you are finishing the book, however, you can easily imagine the entire
world and characters that fill the book. Reading books is all due to the
stimulation of the brain that reading induces. Heavy readers will know the
feeling of losing themselves in the worlds of novels. It is a wonderful
feeling.
The imagination is a
powerful tool that can be useful in all aspects of life. Though it might not be
considered as often, the imagination is what allows us to be empathetic with
people. This empathy can help on the job or even at home. With reading being an
excellent way to improve your imagination, it is no wonder that books have been
a favorite for so many years.
8. Boosts Your Sleep
Did you know that
reading can also help with your sleep? No, this doesn’t mean that reading helps
you fall asleep, but it does contribute to improving your overall sleep pattern
and restfulness. Reading, since it enables you to relax and de-stress, can help
pull you into a deep and peaceful sleep. That sounds like it might be too good
to be true, but reading can, in fact, help you sleep.
Books are great
company at night before you go to bed. Choosing a good book and settling
down after dark is incredibly relaxing. If your day is busy, take a breath. By
setting apart specific times for reading just before falling asleep at night,
you can help yourself relax and wind down before falling asleep. The type of
literature you read is your preference, but merely the fact that you are
reading is the important part.
Reading before bed
calms your body and mind, especially after a long and stressful day. Even if
the reading is just a short amount—a chapter or two—the peacefulness that
reading induces can help slip you into a deep and restful sleep. The relaxation
that books can bring is just one of the wonderful benefits of reading every
night before bed.
9. Enjoy Your Entertainment and Peace
Perhaps the most
well-known benefit of reading is the entertainment value of opening a book with
crisp, white pages. Of course, the entertainment of reading is typically what
draws avid readers to pick up the next great book. In fact, reading has been a
solid form of entertainment for many years. Though reading is perfect for
entertainment, there’s more to reading than just the entertainment factor.
Any reader knows that
reading can be peaceful and induce a relaxing state of mind. By immersing
yourself in a good book, you can almost feel any stress or worry melt away. You
are both entertained and relaxed just by reading, which is just one of the many
great things about books.
With the ability to
entertain and induce peacefulness, reading has been a constant comfort to
people of all ages and from all walks of life. For years, this entertainment
factor has been at the forefront of literature. Books and other forms of
writing are still just as popular today. The peaceful state of reading has been
just an amazing as the entertainment. Many great readers and writers have
mentioned the importance of reading throughout their careers, being advocates
for reading.
10. Reading Can Brighten Your Day
Books can bring joy to
your life on a daily basis. The act of reading is a great benefit both to
mental and physical health, but it can also brighten your day. Sometimes, the
days can be stressful and worrisome, but when you lay down at night and curl up
with a good book, it lifts your spirits along with that stress and worry.
There’s no reason to
feel upset about stressful situations. Just take some time out from your day,
read a little bit, and feel yourself relaxing. As compelling as meditation and
yoga are at brightening your day, a little time spent alone with a book is a
lovely way to spend your afternoon or night. Books are easy to carry around,
especially with the popular e-readers, and you can enjoy your reading time
anywhere.
From vacations to a quick
moment while waiting in the carpool line, reading is an effective means of
relaxation in an otherwise busy world. If you love to get up early, you should
start your day with a little light reading. Your day will be just a little bit
brighter, and you can breathe easy. Let books take a little weight off your
shoulders so you can enjoy the things around you. Take a few moments for
yourself and just read.
11. Helps You to Broaden Your Mind
Books allow you to see
things from a completely different perspective. Reading a book about a certain
culture, for example, can help you to understand how that culture differs from
your own. You might not agree with that culture’s perspective, but at least
you’ll look at things from a new angle.
Books give you new
ideas. You’re constantly learning when you’re reading, and you can start to
look at the world from a more balanced perspective. In the absence of other
viewpoints, we tend to have a very one-dimensional type of thinking based on
our upbringing.
We act the way we do
because that’s what we learned during our formative years. We look at things
from the angle of our own experience. Using this lens, it is easy to assume
that our way is the correct way. Books can help us see things in a new light,
allowing us to let go of the notions of “correct” or “incorrect” and seeing
instead different ways of being human.
Take, for example, the
image of a Muslim woman wearing a burka or hijab. A lot of people in Western
society may view this as a type of oppression. In reality, however, many Muslim
women choose to dress in this manner as a part of their spiritual beliefs.
If you were to read a
book or article on the matter written by a Muslim woman, you could learn to
start seeing things from her perspective. It’s a big world out there, and
reading is one way to expand your mind to all the possibilities.
Conclusion
Books are amazing
things that can be both entertaining and beneficial to your health. They are
almost like tools to a healthy lifestyle. Those who don’t read can’t understand
the love for reading, but those who read on a daily basis know the importance
of diving into a good book. The books that you choose to read is your
preference, which can range from romance to non-fiction. Often, people will
read magazine articles or even textbooks if that is what they enjoy reading.
Whatever you choose to read, you can count on the multiple benefits of reading
to help both your mind and body.
It is easy to enjoy
books when you are merely reading for pleasure. Heavy readers will always have
a book in their hands as well. As a reader, you probably don’t think of the
great benefits of reading either, but they are there even when you don’t realize
it. From stress relief to improved memory, reading is hugely beneficial in all
aspects of our lives. Reading is a great way to improve yourself all around.
You can find books
anywhere, from the library to bookstores to thrift shops. It’s easy to seek out
books that interests you. In fact, you can find books everywhere. If you aren’t
sure where to find the best books, magazines or other literary works, all you
have to do is type in a simple google search. The options of books or magazines
to read are limitless. The kind of books you enjoy reading is as simple as
trying out a few genres. If you prefer true stories, go with non-fiction. And
if mystical stories of fantasy, romance, and tall tales are your cup of tea,
then give fiction a chance.
If you aren’t an avid
reader already, give it a shot. Reading might seem boring to some who have
never truly read a great piece, but with a little time, you can love reading as
well. With all of the amazing benefits of reading, it is definitely worth the
time. Take a chance to help your mental and physical well-being. It’s quite
simple; pick up a best seller, settle down in your cozy bed, and read! You
might be surprised at the great fun that reading can be to you, and you might
even become a heavy reader with time. Whatever you choose to do, don’t forget
the incredible benefits of reading. One book is all it takes.
So take this challenge
and start reading just one book today! If this post was helpful, do share!