2024-08-14 14:00:59
François Lehn, science/health journalist and author for 20 years, renowned “feather” and assistant to Professor David Servan-Schreiber.
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You’ll be surprised to learn that the benefits of reading include fighting stress, supporting better sleep, and even extending your life. If you’re an avid reader, you’ve probably experienced the many benefits of spending time reading every day.
benefits of reading
1. Fight stress
One of the main benefits of reading is its ability to reduce stress and promote a calming and stimulating environment for the brain. Like meditation, yoga, and walking outside, reading is an effective way to manage stress and one of the best ways to feel happy. Multiple studies support this, including one showing that shared reading between parents and young children can reduce parental stress and have a positive impact on the parent-child relationship over time. Another study published in the Journal of Religion and Health found that reading the Bible moderated the relationship between stress and hope and helped people rely on caring coping responses. A study from the University of Sussex even found that just six minutes of reading can reduce stress by 68%.
2. Promote empathy and understanding
Reading can make you more understanding and empathetic. It allows you to put yourself in other people’s shoes and expands your understanding of the world. A survey of 213 students in a professional health sciences program found that recreational reading aided professional development and enhanced participants’ empathy. Participants also noted that leisure reading can reduce stress, improve thinking and communication skills, and increase understanding of minority groups.
3. Improve sleep
Research also shows that reading before bed is associated with longer night’s sleep. A study of 62 4-year-old children found that reading before bed was significantly associated with longer total nighttime sleep time. Interventions that increase bedtime reading may improve preschoolers’ sleep health. Another study found that replacing 50% of screen time with reading improved children’s sleep quality.
4. Promote cognitive health
Reading helps keep your mind active, enhances brain function, and helps prevent age-related cognitive decline. A study published in Time magazine shows that daily “mental training” can improve brain function in normal adults. Another study found that reading can enhance language-processing areas of the brain and can also have a positive impact on sensory and motor functions or pathways.
5. Extend lifespan
Research highlights the connection between reading and life expectancy. According to a study published in Social Science & Medicine, Reading contributes to survival advantages and reduces the risk of death. Of course, reduced stress, improved sleep, and enhanced brain function are all important benefits of reading that can increase life expectancy and overall health.
6. Make you smarter and expand your knowledge
Books are a rich source of information on many topics, providing readers with knowledge that can be applied to all aspects of life. Research shows that reading broadens a person’s knowledge base, helping to improve general intelligence and provide a better understanding of the world. Research published in Advances in Child Development and Behavior shows that reading or Exposure to writing is associated with greater vocabulary, general knowledge, and more developed oral expression skills. It also helps increase knowledge about the world and abstract reasoning skills.
7. Improve conversational skills
Reading a variety of literature exposes readers to different perspectives, ideas, and vocabulary, improving their ability to have meaningful conversations. A study published in the journal Science found that reading literary fiction improves the ability to understand the mental states of others, a key skill in conversations and social interactions.
8. Teach social skills
Books, especially those with rich character development, can teach readers about social cues, empathy, and understanding different social contexts. Research shows that engaging with stories helps develop empathy and social skills as readers learn to see the world from others’ perspectives.
9. Improve critical thinking
Critical reading, especially nonfiction and complex literature, promotes critical thinking by encouraging readers to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information. Regular reading improves critical thinking skills, allowing individuals to better process and question information.
10. Strengthen communication skills
Regular reading expands vocabulary and improves language skills, which are essential for effective communication. A study in Reading Research Quarterly found that mastering Reading is directly related to improving writing and speaking skills, thereby improving overall communication skills.
11. Promote creativity and imagination
Reading, especially novels, stimulates the imagination and encourages creative thinking. Fiction readers are more likely to think creatively and solve problems, according to research published in the Journal of Creativity Research.
12. Improve focus and concentration
Reading requires sustained attention, which helps improve focus and concentration. People who read regularly show better concentration and cognitive endurance than people who don’t read.
13. Improve mental health
Reading can be a form of mental escape and relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety. Bibliotherapy, the use of books for therapy, has been shown to improve mental health outcomes by providing a sense of comfort and understanding.
What should you read?
Reading of any kind is good for your emotional, mental, and physical health. You can read digital novels, magazines, newspapers and articles on your phone or tablet. You can also choose the genre of literature that appeals to you most—from history to biography, spiritual, inspirational, or fiction. Choose things that bring you joy and relax you.
Keep in mind that if you make evening reading part of your evening routine, you may want to choose books or paper reading rather than digital reading. Some research shows that reading on an iPad before bed affects wakefulness, circadian physiology, and sleep, so reading a book or paper consistently before bed may be beneficial.
How to combine more reading
Try to develop a reading habit that you stick to every day. Maybe that means reading for 30 minutes with your coffee or tea in the morning, or reading during your lunch break or before bed as part of your evening routine. If you read regularly, you will reap the many benefits of reading.
Reading something stimulating and inspiring is a motivating way to start your day. This helps relieve stress and improve mood right from the start. At night, choosing reading time instead of watching TV or any other type of screen time is better for your mood, your brain, and your sleep. That’s not to say there isn’t time during the week to aimlessly watch TV, but reading more books can be beneficial.
Choose a type of music that will soothe your mood in the evening and help you relax before bed.
Risks/Side Effects?
To reap the benefits of reading, choose a genre or topic that brings you joy, at least before bed. If you like reading newspapers or online news sources, make sure it doesn’t affect your mood. News coverage often causes anxiety, so be aware of how it affects your mood and behavior.
Although digital reading is becoming increasingly popular, it’s important to note that Blue light can make you feel more awake and cause eye strain after prolonged use. It’s okay to do some digital reading, but try reading from books or paper materials as well.
There’s evidence that reading can help reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance brain function, improve mood, and even make you smarter. Reading every day promotes better brain function, expands your understanding of the world, and develops empathy. Reading with children is also very beneficial. Reading to children can help improve sleep and enhance bonding.
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