There are different types of reading. You might be reading for enjoyment, to learn or even reading aloud to your children. Whatever it is, there are inherent benefits to being in the habit of reading. If you are writing about what you read then you should ensure that you are taking steps to avoid plagiarism.
If you read for work or study, then you should make sure you take time to read for enjoyment. It can be difficult to motivate yourself to do so but it will help you stay motivated to read other things too. Reading is a fantastic hobby to have, as it will have a positive impact on many other aspects of your life.
Mental Stimulation
Keeping your mind active can slow the process of Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Your brain is a muscle and needs to be exercised, by keeping it stimulated new synapses in your brain are formed. This, in turn, can make you better at other things.
Reading also improves your memory. When you read a story, you need to remember what went before. Exercising this skill will help your memory for other things too. Another way to keep your mind active is to do brain puzzles or to learn something new.
Makes You Smarter
Reading will fill you with new information and gives you lots of interesting things to talk about. This might make you more confident and give you better self-worth. It also provides you with a wider vocabulary, allowing you to use different words to better describe things. Reading makes you overall better at writing whether it be an email or an essay. It develops your skills in structuring language and using grammar.
Reading can also give you better analytical skills. When you have to figure out whats happening in a story, or you are trying to learn something new, you exercise your problem-solving skills. The ability to analyze information will help you in lots of other aspects of your life. Furthermore, it even has the power to improve your ability to focus. In a world where we are constantly stimulated, taking the time to slow down and focus on reading enables us to concentrate for longer on other things.
Creativity
There is always something new to read! This can help us to stay creative and keep finding new inspiration. Whether you are a writer, a painter or a seamstress, a good book can give you new ideas.
Stress and Sleep
Reading can also reduce stress, taking time out for ourselves to read something is good for us and has the power to relax us. Reading can bring you into the present moment and stop you from thinking about anything which might be making you stressed. If you are struggling with stress then you may also consider reading one of the many self-help books.
It is also a good thing to do before bed. Watching TV or looking at your phone decreases your sleep quality as it disturbs your hormones. Reading a good book is a great alternative and will leave you feeling more refreshed in the morning.
Do you enjoy reading and what benefits do you believe you get from it?