Why you should read more!

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr Seuss

Reading as a stress relief

Did you know that reading for even just 6 minutes a day can reduce stress by 68%?! Reading can decrease heart rate and blood pressure. Why wouldn't anyone want to read more after just hearing this? Especially in current times, we could all do with some stress relief. So next time you're feeling a weight on your shoulders, sit down with a nice hot beverage, zone out from life's pressures, put digital media down and take some time to channel your energy into a book.

Reading to enhance knowledge and understanding

Obviously reading non-fiction books can help to increase knowledge around a particular topic but it's important to remember that even fiction books can help to introduce you to new ideas, thoughts and ways of thinking.

Reading to increase brain power and attention span

Everyone knows that physical exercise is beneficial to the body. Well, likewise, reading is so good for the brain. Not only does reading strengthen brain connectivity but it improves neural networks. This is because when you are reading, brain circuits and signals are working and getting stronger. Reading can also help to boost the ability to focus as it trains us to concentrate on a single thing for long periods of time. If you are someone who struggles with their attention span then try to sit down and read each day and see if your focus increases.

Reading is literally a workout for the brain and enjoyable so why wouldn't you read?!

Reading to make you more empathetic

Reading fiction books allows you to put yourself into someone else's shoes and heightens your ability to understand the feelings and thoughts of the characters. This can boost emotional intelligence which then aids improvement of social and communication skills to be better. Non-fiction books can also allow you to get insight into other people's life experiences. For example, I am currently reading Anne Frank's diary and learning about the horrors of the holocaust.

Reading to extend vocabulary

When you are reading you get exposed to new words and their context. If you do this consistently and make sure to look up the definition you can try to include these into your daily language. Over time, your vocab will be extended.

Reading to slow cognitive decline

Reading regularly has been shown to decrease the rate of cognitive decline. It has been found that those individuals who read frequently showed less physical signs of memory loss such as tangles and lesions which are commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease.

So next time you are wondering why you should swap scrolling through social media for reading a book, think of these amazing benefits you could reap.

- Hayley