Why Reading Is Important For You? 12 Amazing Benefits of reading! — The Living Hymn
In a world where entertainment is right in our hands, you may ask yourself what is the point of reading?
In today’s fast-paced world, reading is becoming a dying habit because there are faster alternatives to consume on social media. Most people claim they don’t have the time to read, yet the average person watches TV for more than two hours a day.
Reading is a workout for your mind — and it’s just as important as physical exercise. I read about two books a month so I’m going to give you my top 12 reasons why reading is important and why you should read.
In my opinion, this is the biggest reason why reading is important. Just like how our body needs food to sustain itself and function optimally, our brain needs to continue learning new things to function at peak performance. The best part is that you can read fiction and non-fiction to get this benefit.
Studies have shown that reading has the power to change your brain structure which makes you more empathetic and improves cognitive processes. By reading more, you become smarter since you are consuming a lot of information and you keep your brain in top shape.
The quote by Tyrion Lannister from the infamous show “Game of Thrones” sums this point up nicely. “My brother has his sword, King Robert has his War-hammer, and I have my mind… and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
One of the benefits and why reading is important is because it increases your vocabulary and your knowledge of how to correctly use new words, it helps you better articulate what you want to say. The knowledge you gain from reading also gives you more to talk about with others. You’ll be able to hold your own, and add to the conversation — instead of having to make excuses and leave.
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You will be able to engage a wider variety of people, and in turn improve your knowledge and conversation skills. Ultimately, this will make you a much more interesting and refreshing person to be around.
In addition to expanding your vocabulary, exposure to published, well-written work has a positive effect on your own writing as well.
Many successful authors gained their expertise by reading the works of others. Observing the various styles of other authors, journalists, poets, and writers will eventually be reflected in your own writing style.
So, if you want to become a better writer, start by learning from previous masters!
In our busy lifestyles, our attention is constantly drawn in different directions throughout the day.
Studies have shown that in a single 5-minute span, the average person will divide their time between working on a task, checking email, keeping an eye on social media, monitoring their smartphone, and chatting with a couple of people (either online or in-person).
Of course, this type of distracted behavior lowers productivity.
When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on what you’re reading — causing the rest of the world to fade away as you immerse yourself in the details.
That’s why reading is important for at least 20 minutes a day. It will improve your concentration, and you’ll be amazed at how much more focused you’ll be.
Have you ever read an amazing mystery novel, and solved the mystery yourself — before finishing the book?
If so, you were able to put your critical thinking skills to work, by taking note of all the details provided, and sorting them out.
That same ability to analyze details comes in handy — even in real life! In fact, critical thinking skills are essential.
Being able to solve problems, given just certain elements, are a part of daily life — from finishing a project for work to figuring out how to navigate difficult relationships.
You are limited only by what you can imagine.
The worlds described in books, as well as other people’s views and opinions, will help you expand your understanding of what is possible.
By reading a written description of an event or a place, your mind is responsible for creating that image in your head — instead of having the image placed in front of you when you watch TV.
You connect all these creations and make changes while you keep reading — all the while expanding your worldview.
When you explore a new literary world, this opens doors for new ideas, subjects and situations that can get you thinking on trying new experiences.
When you are reading something good, your mind is more relaxed and the subject you are reading about might even bring inner peace.
In short doses, allowing your mind to focus on things other than your challenges, can be highly beneficial, and even necessary.
That is why reading is important, as it offers a safe, healthy, and productive replacement for negative thinking. It gives your mind a safe place to rest, until you regain the strength you need to overcome obstacles and challenges.
Reading books offers the opportunity to stop and take a moment to rethink or reflect on the content.
When you read a book, you have to remember an assortment of characters, their backgrounds, ambitions, histories, and nuances, as well as the various arcs and subplots that weave their way through the story.
What’s more, with every new memory you create, you create new pathways in your brain, and this strengthens the existing ones.
Furthermore, staying mentally stimulated by reading regularly, can slow the progress or
possibly even prevent Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Research shows us why reading is important as it not only helps with fluid intelligence but with reading comprehension and emotional intelligence as well — and as a result, you make smarter decisions about yourself and those around you.
When you are armed with all sorts of knowledge, making a decision can be easier because you see all possible options.
You can make educated guesses on how each choice will play out and pick the one you like best.
It can be hard to sleep when there’s a lot of things going on in your mind.
This is why so many experts recommend that you establish a regular de-stressing routine before you go to sleep. This will help calm your mind, and therefore help you sleep better.
Reading a book is one of the best ways to calm yourself before going to bed. Even if it’s just for ten minutes, reading can help you push whatever was keeping you awake out of your mind.
So while in bed, instead of watching television or spending time on your smartphone, grab a book and read. Reading a book can help make sure you put it down once it’s time to sleep.
Reading inspirational books can contribute to your growth and development.
With the endless amount of perspectives and lives you can read about, books can give you an opportunity to have experiences that you haven’t had the chance to, and still allow you to learn the life skills they possess.
Essentially, reading is the seed of inspiration. The words plant the ideas in your brain, and those ideas flourish from there.
The more you read, the more words you are exposed to. These words will inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary — and being articulate and well-spoken earns you a bonus point in many professions.
The ability to confidently communicate with your employers and peers can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem, and it will also help you advance the career ladder.
Studies have shown that those who are well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics, tend to get promotions more quickly and more often — compared to those with smaller vocabularies and lack of awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events.
Researchers have found that adults who read at least three and a half hours a week, can expect to have a longer lifespan than those who do not read books. This is because reading can increase connectivity between brain cells, which can lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases that can shorten a lifespan.
Check out this Link for some of the best-selling books if you are interested.
Developing a daily reading habit can be super beneficial for you — in fact, reading makes you more intelligent!
Whether you choose to nourish your inner escapist, or feed your brain with new knowledge, remember to open a book and replenish your soul regularly.
What do you think?
Are you an avid reader, or do you avoid books like some kind of plague?
Now that you know all the amazing benefits, why reading is important, and what reading has to offer, will you make a conscious effort to read more? Let us know in the comments below!
Remember! You care, When You Share.
Originally published at https://livinghymn.com on April 28, 2020.
