The Importance of Reading
Reading is the process of decoding symbols in order to gain meaning. It is a cognitive process that involves comprehension, analysis, and evaluation of a written text. It is also an essential skill that helps us to understand the world and express our ideas.
Reading can improve your life in several ways leading to better well-being and mental health, personal growth, and a boost in confidence. Here’s why you should read and how reading books can change your brain and your body for the better.
Benefits Of Reading
1. Reading Stimulates the Brain
Just like going for a jog improves your cardiovascular system, reading regularly gives your brain a good workout.
Reading is excellent for the brain because it is more demanding than processing speech and images. Researchers confirmed using MRI scans that reading involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. When your reading ability matures, those networks also get more substantial and sophisticated. [1]
Mental stimulation from reading will improve your memory and learning capacity. It keeps your mind sharp by slowing cognitive decline as you age. It also strengthens your brain against diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia.
2. Reading Improves Memory
When you read a book, you must remember a whole range of words, ideas, names, concepts, and plots. In other words, reading creates new memories, and with each of these memories, your brain forms new connections between neurons called synapses (brain pathways), and also strengthens existing ones. [2]
These new brain connections assist in short-term memory recall as well as stabilizing mood.
3. Reading Makes You More Empathetic
Getting lost in a good read can make it easier for you to relate to others. According to one research, reading literary fiction, in particular, has the power to help its readers understand other people’s thoughts and emotions.
Researchers call this the “theory of mind,” this set of skills is essential for building and maintaining social relationships. And long-term fiction readers have a better-developed theory of mind. [3]
4. Reading Relieves Stress
Reading can work as an effective stress-buster. A study showed that reading reduced stress by as much as 68%. It concluded that 30 minutes of reading lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress, as effectively as yoga. [4]
As a matter of fact, only six minutes is enough to slow your heart rate, ease tension in your muscles, and lower stress hormones like cortisol.
5. Reading Expands Your Vocabulary
The more you read, the more words you’ll be exposed to, increasing your mental dictionary. This will improve your ability to communicate effectively and allow you to articulate your thoughts better.
Being articulate and well-spoken is helpful in any profession. It provides you with self-confidence and boosts your self-esteem. A 2019 poll showed that 69% of employers are looking to hire people who can communicate effectively. [5]
Conclusion
Reading benefits go beyond simple entertainment; it improves brain connectivity, increases vocabulary and comprehension, reduces stress, and prevents cognitive decline as you age.
With so many benefits, everyone ought to commit to reading more. Try to set specific goals like finishing a book within a certain amount of time, or reading for a certain amount of time daily.
It’s never too late to start reading and taking advantage of reading’s many cognitive and psychological benefits.
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References
[1]Reading skill and structural brain development - PMC (nih.gov)
[3]Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind - PubMed (nih.gov)
[5]Demand for “Uniquely Human Skills” Grows as Technology & Automation Replace Jobs | Cengage Group
