If you are an avid reader or pick up a book once in a while, you may be experiencing some of the many health benefits of reading already!

Or, if you are looking to restart your reading journey. Then this article is for you. The average time spent reading has declined by approximately 30% over the last 20 years. In contrast, the rates for watching TV and computer gaming have risen. People are missing out on the numerous health benefits of reading.

Great news, we are here to help!

In this article, we will cover:

• Does reading have health benefits?
• The top five health benefits of reading:
  1. Reduce stress
  2. Increase in brain health and Memory
  3. Mental health benefits
  4. Better quality sleep
  5. Fuels creativity

Does reading have health benefits?

Yes, reading has health benefits.

There are several areas in which reading can improve your health. These improvements can be in the form of brain health, and emotional and mental wellbeing. This can even lead to happier and healthier relationships.

On top of expanding your knowledge base, it can also be the catalyst to spark your imagination and creativity. Many people can attribute some of their key ideas or breakthrough successes to a single book or theme they read.

Aside from being a popular hobby, reading can also be used to escape reality. This is shown to reduce isolation and loneliness.

What are the top five health benefits of reading?

1. Reduce Stress

Reading allows your mind to be distracted in the literary world. It proves more effective than taking a walk, listening to music, and playing video games.

A 2009 study between Mindlab International and The University of Sussex found people who read for six minutes, showed signs of reduced muscle tension, lower heart rates, and reduced stress levels by as much as 68%.

A key to remember is that the book you choose is irrelevant, as long as it is a topic you enjoy!

2. Increase in Brain Health and Memory

Reading has many benefits for the brain. The question that gets asked frequently is – what medium is best for your brain? Paper books are shown to have a higher impact on your brain than using ereaders such as Kindle or Kobo.

The main benefit to your brain from reading comes in the form of a workout. As you read more, different parts of your brain become activated. This leads to a strengthening of your neural pathways. Some readers have seen these increases stay active for up to five days after finishing a book.

OK, you have the option of the book, movie or audiobook. Which one are you choosing?

The common theme of reading and engaging your brain is evident here again. Reading engages your short and long-term memory in order to follow the plot. This strengthens your working memory – the ability to store information and your episodic memory – the ability to recall events in your life.

This act stimulates parts of the brain that would otherwise lay dormant and become less healthy. This in turn solidifies and strengthens our brain in a compounding way.

In older people especially, reading is used as an exercise to keep your mind sharp. Through the act of reading, there is a need to recall words and definitions from deep within your brain.

While mental decline is inevitable, consistent reading strengthens our neural pathways and can prevent it as we age.

3. Mental Health Benefits

As discussed earlier, reading provides an escape. Unlike other mediums such as TV and social media, you must create the visuals in your imagination. This acts to stimulate your curiosity.

Social media provides a dopamine hit making it very addictive. Reading can replace this short-term dopamine hit. This will have the effect of uplifting our minds rather than draining them. With social media linked to declining mental health, reading can provide an alternative. Narrative absorption or being addicted to a book is where the reader is hooked on the narrative.

Research has also shown that reading enhances empathy. This is critical in combating isolation and strengthening social connections. One great example is the post-covid explosion of book clubs and sharing.

4. Better Quality Sleep

Researchers have long associated good sleep hygiene with reading. A 2019 study by The People’s Trial found that 42% showed improved sleep quality compared to those who didn’t.

By picking up a book at the same time each night, your body associates this with preparing to sleep.

A key health benefit of this winding down process is that it aids in de-stimulating your brain and reducing cognitive arousal. This can be particularly useful when combined with insomnia treatment.

Choosing the right type of book before bedtime is critical in this process. Informational or educational literature can act as a workout for your brain. Whereas, fiction proves to be a more relaxing genre because it stimulates introspective thoughts.

5. Fuels Creativity

Reading has a proven track record of getting the creative juices flowing. Fiction, in particular, inspires creative thoughts.

Reading forces you to immerse yourself in different worlds, themes, and ideas. This has the effect of broadening your breadth of knowledge, but it will expose you to various words and meanings.

How many times have you read a sentence without knowing what the word is?

I do it all the time. Then proceed to look the definition up and ‘try’ and commit it to memory.

By gaining exposure to new perspectives and seeing things from a different angle. You can approach problems from a newfound viewpoint. This has the effect of producing more creative solutions.

Bringing It All Together

Reading is not merely a pastime but a powerful tool for enhancing your overall well-being.

The health benefits of reading are profound and far-reaching. Regular reading can unlock these and benefits and enrich your life in countless ways. So, grab a book and start reaping the rewards today!