Reading started spreading since mankind learned how to put a pen on paper. Stories that used to be told at night around the fire started spreading through books. And until today, in this age and time in which social media and short-term videos have taken the world by storm, reading still has a large crowd.
A lot of us use reading as a way to travel from one place to another, to meet new people, explore different timelines, and live different lives. Reading is an escape from daily stress. When we read, we enter a state of immense focus, the world around us starts to fade, and we stop being ourselves for a little while. During that time, we get temporary relief from the bustling thoughts that trouble our minds.
But did you know that reading also has a lot of health benefits that exceed escapism? To all the dedicated readers, it's about time you knew what you got from reading, aside from the pleasure of it. And, to all of those who sigh at it, maybe it's time to pick a book. Here's why.
Reading Fiction keeps your Brain Cells Active
Several studies suggest that reading can stave off dementia and Alzheimer's disease or reduce their risk. One of those studies concluded that reading for at least one hour a day might be protective against dementia in later life.
Researchers compared the effect of reading on memory loss in comparison to other activities, and the result was that with reading, there is a remarkable 30% reduction in memory loss!
How does reading reduce the risk of dementia and strengthen memory? This could be due to the fact that reading is an activity that stimulates our cognitive function. There is a study that used MRI to show that reading is involved in a complex network of circuits in our brains. This study measured the effect of reading a novel on the brain and found that as the tension in the novel increased, more areas in the brain lit up like a Christmas tree¹.
Reading Increases Empathy
Maybe this is a no-brainer. Reading helps you empathize with others. Think about it: when you read novels, you get to meet people with different stories and live through different experiences. Grief, pain, loss, joy, and happiness, you get a taste of all of those feelings and emotions when you read. You also get to see situations through different lenses and perspectives.
So, when you meet someone who is going through something, even though you don't feel what they feel, you'll find yourself able to understand and empathize with them better.
Reading Reduces Stress
When life is pounding on me and I need a break so badly, I pay a visit to Brandon Sanders’ cosmere and lose myself in one of those complex and rich worlds. Or I might go to Derry, where five kids have to face the evil and ancient Pennywise on their own. Little by little, my worries become less, and my stress starts to fade.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that this works every time. But, most of the time, it works like a magical spell.
Studies done on college students showed that leisure reading does indeed reduce stress ². The effect that reading has on stress is similar to the effect that walking, exercising, and practicing other hobbies might have.
Reading Helps You Sleep
Yes, reading can help you sleep better if you don't read late into the night, and no, not because it will bore you to sleep. As we mentioned in the section above, reading eases stress, and for many people, stress is the reason they have difficulty falling asleep. However, reading doesn't just help you sleep; it also improves the quality of your sleep and increases its duration.
There was an online randomized trial in which people were asked to either read a book before going to sleep or not to read it, and the results were like you expect them to be. Reading a book before sleep improves sleep quality³.
Reading and Depression
Reading is connected to lower rates of depression among the elderly population. Not only that, but reading can also help alleviate symptoms of depression.
Really, that's how it worked for me. I struggled with clinical depression for a long time, and during that period, getting into a book was one thing that helped me and made me feel better, and not just during the period of reading; that improvement used to accompany me for a long time.
Reading May Lower Blood Pressure
There are some claims that reading slows down the heart rate. This is not surprising because, during reading, you are relaxed (well, mostly). That's why your heart rate and respiration slow down, and as a result, your blood pressure levels drop.
Of course, this doesn't mean that reading will substitute for other things like a good diet, medications, and exercise, but it can be a contributor.
What should you read?
I would say, look around until you find something that can truly engage your mind and captivate you; that's when you will reap most of the benefits. Find a story that steals you, a story with characters who keep you invested in them, a story that pulls you back to it when you are not reading.
For me, the stories that have such an effect on me are the ones that take me to other worlds—to Middle Earth, Roshar, and the final empire. Those stories showed me things that I wouldn't have ever imagined.
What to Do If You Don't Like Reading
If you don't like reading, you can specify a certain time to read during the day, regardless of how you feel about it. Trust me, once you find what you like, you will find yourself pretty much in love with reading. Like a famous saying I have heard before:
There is no such thing as someone who hates reading; there are just people who don't find the right book.
Take away
Reading can:
Strengthen your memory.
Stimulates your brain.
Increases empathy.
Lowers blood pressure.
Reduces stress and helps with depression.
It helps you sleep.
So, keep on reading my friend; it doesn't matter what you read, read what you love, or read until you find something that you love.
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