Why is reading good for you? If you’re a bookworm, you might be curious about what reading does for you besides simply being a fun pastime. And if you’re not yet a reader, you might be wondering why you should pick up a book at all…
There are so many exciting benefits of reading, so if you’re wondering about the reasons why reading is good for you then here are 5 compelling reasons to pick up a book!
Why Is Reading Good For You?
So why is reading books good for you? The short answer is that reading is great for you because it helps improve your mental well-being and strengthen your focus, memory, and more. It can also benefit your physical health, including reducing stress and maybe even helping you live longer. And it also increases your knowledge, can help you be more empathetic and a better person, and might also just bring you lots of joy!
For all these reasons and many more, reading is great for you across all aspects of your life. It’s a great time to get back into reading if you’ve stopped for a while, or to become a bookworm for the first time!
5 Reasons Why Reading Is Good For You
Now that we know the answer to why you should read in brief, lets dive into more about all the reasons reading is good for you. Here are five main reasons why you should pick up a book today!
1. Reading exercises your brain and improves mental well-being
Why is reading a book good for you? One of the main reasons is because it helps your mental well-being.
Reading books has been shown to improve memory, as well as concentration and focus as you practice the skill of reading. Interestingly, it’s also been shown to have a link with reducing cognitive decline and might have some effect on depression as well!
So if you want to keep your brain healthy, reading is an excellent way to do that. You can set reading goals (even small ones!) to help you read every day and reap the benefits of reading for your brain!
2. Reading can improve your physical health
Another huge reason why reading a book is good for you is because it can also improve aspects of your physical health as well.
While reading isn’t much of a physical workout (unless you read while on the treadmill), it does have some correlation with physical benefits. These benefits include reducing stress by up to 68%, improving sleep quality, and perhaps even living longer as reading books has been shown to link with a reduction in mortality of around 20%.
While living longer obviously isn’t a guarantee, the physical benefits of reading on your body and on your sleep quality definitely make picking up a book and getting interested in reading a no-brainer!
3. Reading increases your knowledge
Reading also increases your knowledge, which is a more well-known advantage of reading but still deserves a mention.
As you read non-fiction or fiction books, you’re encountering new facts, stories, and more. The more widely you read, the more your general knowledge will increase.
Additionally, it also increases your knowledge in other ways, such as by increasing your vocabulary. You can learn so many new words, facts, and discover so many other cool things by reading!
4. Reading could make you a better person
Yet another incredible reason to read is because it can help make you a better person.
Reading fiction has been linked with being better at understanding what others are thinking and feeling, and reading in general might be able to help you become more empathetic.
But reading also helps us become better communicators, better critical thinkers, and perhaps more inclusive as we learn more about others’ experiences and perspectives.
So if you want to improve yourself, reading is a great way to help yourself along the road to become a kinder and better human!
5. Reading can bring you joy
And lastly, reading is also good for you simply because it can bring you joy.
Reading is a great source of entertainment and a way to use your imagination. It can also be a really helpful and fun break from reality!
So if you’re looking for a boost of happiness, then picking up a book is a great way to bring yourself joy and happiness.