5 Awesome Benefits of Reading: Why Books are Our Best Friends

You’ve probably been told that reading is good for you, but why is that? Well, reading comes with tons of great benefits to your physical and mental health, as well as your personal growth. Here are five great benefits of reading that might just motivate you to get back to the books.

1. Reading relieves stress and anxiety

Life is stressful, we get it. Lucky for us, books exist! Reading engages your imagination and allows your mind to focus on a single task, making it a great meditative practice for reducing stress and anxiety. One study by the University of Sussex found that people who read for as little as six minutes experienced slower heart rates and less muscle tension. They also found that reading reduced stress by as much as 68%—that’s more than listening to music, drinking tea, and going for a walk! Next time you’re feeling anxious or stressed, consider taking a few minutes to get lost in a good book.

2. Reading improves memory and slows cognitive decline

It should come as no surprise that reading is a great way to stimulate your brain, but what does that mean for your long-term health? Well, regular reading has been shown to lower the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. One Rush University study of aging adults even found that avid readers experienced 30% less memory loss and had fewer physical signs of dementia than non-readers. Think of it like this: if your brain were a muscle, reading would be the exercise it needs to stay fit! It’s time to do some heavy (mental) lifting!

3. Reading helps you sleep

You’ve likely heard time and time again that screentime before bed can be damaging to your sleep. Reading, on the other hand, is a great way to wind down for the night (and not because it’s boring!). Multiple studies have shown that reading improves sleep by helping you relax and relieving stress. It might even help fight insomnia and keep you asleep longer. So, before bed tonight, consider ditching the phone and picking up a good book instead. Beauty sleep, here we come!

4. Reading makes you a better writer

Want to write better? You might want to start by hitting the books. Reading helps you absorb much of what makes a particular piece of writing good—from the structure of the story to the flow of the words, a lot goes into a good book! On the more technical side of things, reading will also help improve your grammar and expand your vocabulary, benefits that translate directly into your own writing. Whether you’d like to improve your practical writing skills or you’re gearing up to write a novel, reading is a great place to start!

5. Reading can be therapeutic

Sometimes, a good book can also be a good therapist. Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic practice that uses literature to provide support and guidance to the reader. As a person begins to read and empathize with the characters in a story, they may also be able to make connections between the writing and what’s happening in their own lives. Because of this, therapeutic reading can help you express empathy, understand your situation, and improve your own problem-solving skills. While we don’t recommend you replace your therapist with a book, reading can be a helpful tool for improving your mental health!

If you were looking for a sign to start a new book, this is it! Reading isn’t just for enjoyment, it’s for your body, your mind, and your personal growth. Whatever reason you decide to pick up your next read, we guarantee you won’t regret it!