10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day
Reading has been a pastime of many people for centuries, but this has started to shift during the current digital era that we now live in. Electronics have begun to take over our lives and our brains, with much of the population spending countless hours peering into smart devices every day. But before smartphones and tablets were a thing, reading was the main source of gaining knowledge. It was also a typical hobby, with many people reading strictly for leisure and entertainment. Even though most people prefer tech these days, reading is an activity that can bring a lot of good back into our lives. There are many benefits of reading regularly, all of which many of us are in desperate need of. Check out these 10 benefits of reading and why you should read every single day.
Mental Stimulation
The entire body needs exercise to stay healthy and agile, and this 100% includes our brains. Studies have shown that reading can help to slow down mental disorders like Dementia and Alzheimer’s. This is because reading stimulates the brain and helps it to retain its capacity and powerful functions.
Stress Reduction
Life is going to continue throwing you curveballs no matter what. But tapping into a good book is one way to take your attention away from your worries and cares of the day. An entertaining good can help you totally tune out the world around you.
Knowledge
It may seem like everything is available online these days, but there is something especially challenging and enhancing about physically reading a book. And even still, there are some volumes and scripts that have never been digitized, so reading them in physical form is the only way you could ever consume their wisdom.
Improved Vocabulary
You may be able to read every world ever created online, but that is not the same as reading them in a book. Studies show that reading books can specifically enhance your vocabulary. This applies for nonfiction books, as well as more entertaining fiction books as well.
Memory Improvement
One of the great assets of reading is a strong memory. Reading is a mental exercise for your brain, and that helps it to retain information. When you read, you are invested in understanding and following a story or concept. So you much remember names, places, plots, dates, historical references or theories in order to continuously understand the text you are reading.
Analytical Strength
Reading every day can increase your analytical skills as well. This is especially true for books like mystery novels. The twists and turns in the plot will challenge you to guess and predict the ending, which in turn is strengthening your analytical fortitude.
Improved Focus and Concentration
One of the biggest pitfalls of technology and social media is that our brains have become extremely lazy. We are spoon-fed information and entertainment all day long. Books encourage you to focus on following a story of dialogue that lasts longer than a 15-second reel. Even just reading for about 20 to 30 minutes a day can work wonders for your focus and concentration skills.
Honed Writing Skills
To write, we all had to learn to read as well. So naturally, the amount of time you spend reading will directly influence your ability to write. If you are looking to improve your writing skills, try reading more every day. Just witness how much better you get at writing as a result of increased reading.
Peace of Mind
Reading is not only good for your mind from the standpoint of knowledge and intellectual health, but it is also good for your mind from the perspective of mental health as well. When you are able to tune into a singular focus, it is soothing to the mind and can help you achieve a state of peace. This is heightened when you read spiritual books or self-help style materials.
Free Entertainment
Yes, there are probably more exciting things to do than read on a Friday night. But those things can add up and end up costing an arm and a leg. One of the beautiful things about books is that you can always find them for free. Local libraries are great resources for reading books for free.