We all know that reading is good for you. We’ve all been told this our whole lives, but still, people don’t read enough. It doesn’t make sense–it’s fun (though many people would disagree with me), but it’s also clearly beneficial to health, reduces stress, and improves vocabulary.
Reading has many benefits to the human body. According to neuroscientists at Emory University in Atlanta, it improves brain power and memory. Studies have also shown that reading may have the ability to slow mental decline as well as reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Reading can help with sleep, too. “Reading is an excellent way to relax and can be a great nighttime ritual,” says psychotherapist and author Angela Buttimer. Many tend to use electronic devices right before bed, but this is actually harmful due to the amount of blue light emitted from them, which can disturb sleep cycles. Instead, reading before bed can signal to your body that it’s time to sleep, so it’s a good way to wind down for the day.
Not only that, but reading decreases stress levels. Researchers at the University of Sussex have found that those who read for only six minutes saw reduced muscle tension and heart rate. This reduces stress, which in turn, helps your immune system. Stress causes your body to release a hormone called cortisol, which leads to inflammation. Inflammation, according to experts, may increase the chances of cancer growth or recurrence.
Reading also helps with improving vocabulary, which is an especially helpful skill for students. When you learn a new word in a book, you are more likely to remember the meaning than if you find it in a dictionary, since books actually put words into context. This can help with many things, including writing essays.
Obviously, reading has many, many benefits. So why don’t people do it more often? The answer is simple: the vast majority of people find reading tedious and boring. It’s understandable, really, since the idea of staring at sheets of paper for long periods of time doesn’t exactly sound appealing. However, reading doesn’t have to be boring. There are endless topics to read about; it should be easy to find something you’re interested in. If you find it hard to read a paper book, listen to an audio book. You can also find a shorter book, reading for shorter periods of time every day.
In conclusion, reading can lead to a happier, healthier life. It can help with many different things, including health and vocabulary. Reading books doesn’t have to be a chore; if you don’t like reading, maybe you just haven’t found the right book yet!
