I love to escape into a great book! The excitement, intrigue and sense of connection gives me a real sense of wellbeing.
And there's science behind the idea that reading is good or our wellbeing. Some of the benefits include:
An escape from the real world
I can often become really immersed in the world withing the book and this can help me to forget my worries. Research has shown that escapism is more complex than just reading for entertainment and that people found the process transformative changing the way they interact with the world and others.
Educates you
I often feel more informed after reading books, I learn new things, experience different people and their lives and even understand myself better. Research shows cognitive differences between those who read a lot and those who read a little, with greater vocabulary, general knowledge, and verbal skills.
Lowers stress
Losing yourself in a good book has been shown to reduce your levels of stress with as little as six minutes a day reading, reducing stress levels by 60%.
Brain health
Reading consistently through life has been shown to slow down memory loss when compared to those who didn’t. The same study found that the rate of mental decline was reduced by 32% when people participated in reading, writing and other activities later on in life.
Pleasure!
Starting a really good book often makes it difficult to stop reading, as the story draws you in and time vanishes while you are engrossed. When you finish a book, you might feel sad that it's ended or excited for the next installment. It's a magical experience.
Empathy
Reading can improve your level of empathy when you learn about the lives of others.
Experiencing and dealving into the feelings of someone very different can give you a brand new perspective on life.
If you are looking to reduce your stress, become more informned and more empathetic then reading might be an answer!
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