Can you believe it? People still read books!
Paper books could sound a bit old-fashion and many would say that they are going to disappear because of digitization. Also, they are expensive and not very eco-friendly.
So why bother yourself with reading books when you could watch a good movie, listen to music, or scroll through your social medias?
First, know that 12 is the average number of books read by individuals per year. Maybe you are at or under the average, but it doesn’t really matter. The point is to understand the benefits of reading and how it could contribute to your happiness.
"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you. »
- Mortimer J. Adler
As you probably understand, reading for reading is not beneficial. Books are a treasure, wisdom passed from centuries. Because spur imagination and open one’s perspective to the world. If you want to understand the benefits of reading, this is the right article for you.
1. Reduce stress
When you read, you have more time to think and focus on a unique task. Your mind is at peace and you engage a different part of the brain- the neocortex. Engaging this part of the brain is important for creativity and your imagination. After all, its our imagination that can make our lives in any way we choose.
Both novels, and other literature can help solve the issues that stress causes by allowing your mind and body to relax.
Thus, allow yourself to take a breath and be swept away to another world. A world far from your work issues and the crazy whirlwind of your daily life.
2. Improve knowledge and vocabulary
The more you read, the more you will strengthen your vocabulary. To be able to express your own thoughts and feelings is important. The ability to articulate and communicate effectively with others paves the way to promotions and leadership.
So remember: books can have grand future benefits which might go unnoticed in the short term.
3. Better memory
Reading is a great brain workout!
So many kinds of books exist from every genre you can think about. For example, in a mystery novel, you will have to remember and think about the plot as each event builds from the introduction. If you forget some key events, you might suspect the wrong character in the novel! What a frustration to have been fooled by the author.
For this reason, reading is important because it sharpens one’s memory and stimulates the hippocampus part of the brain.
4. Sleep like a baby
Have you ever noticed that reading just a few pages after a long day can make you tired very fast? The reason for this is because the eyes are fixated on small words, which dilates the pupils. In addition, focusing the brain burns energy and when you have no energy left in the day, you fall asleep.
Thoughts are constantly racing across one’s mind and this causes time to fly by very fast. Reading gives us control and slows down time so that we can enjoy the moment.
Reading has so many benefits and that’s why no matter how digitized the world becomes, books will never disappear.