Health Benefits of Reading

Did you know that March is National Reading Month? Let’s celebrate this awesome month by looking at the ways reading can positively affect our health!

1. Reading gives your brain a workout.Our minds are passive when we watch TV, but when we read, they are actively involved. Pick up a book to flex your mind muscles!

2. It helps improve memory. Every new memory we gain creates a new structure in our brain that helps us maintain the memories we have and strengthen our new ones. So when you’re reading a book and storing away little details about the characters and plot, you’re creating new pathways in your brain!

3. Reading may prevent Alzheimer’s. Several studies show that reading can slow down cognitive decline by 32%! In fact, older adults who read regularly are 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease!

4. Knowledge is power! The more you read, the more you learn. Every book expands your knowledge base, improves your vocabulary, and increases your analytical thinking skills.

5. Reading makes us better writers. Reading a well-written book allows us to absorb the author’s unique tone, style, and diction, and we subconsciously absorb those elements and try to mimic them in our own writing. The more you read, the better of a writer you’ll become! (Not a health benefit, but still very beneficial!)

6. It helps with concentration. Reading requires your full concentration, and that discipline can help you focus more fully on other tasks.

7. Stress relief! Picking up an enjoyable book or magazine is a great way to escape from life’s daily stresses, and it’s healthy to boot! Reading for a few minutes can even reduce your heart rate and help relax your tense muscles.

8. It helps improve your mood. When we read, we leave our own worries and anxieties behind, which can help stabilize our moods.

9. Reading can help ease depression. Identifying with book characters helps us feel less alone, and reading about healthy relationships can promote positive relationships in your own life.

10. Reading can help you sleep. There’s always that one really boring book that will put you to sleep. 😉