Books | Self-Improvement | Neuroscience
The Benefits Of Books On Your Brain
Reading daily can change the structure of your brain.
Do you like reading?
If so, you’re likely doing something great for your brain
From novels to business books, reading has a vast impact on the way our brain functions and may alter its chemistry.
It has numerous benefits such as increased intelligence, improved mental health, and can even make you live longer.
Reading is a valuable hobby underused by today’s screen-addicted generation
Let’s dive deeper.
Brain benefits
Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist in New York City, says reading can create new neurons in the brain through a process known as neurogenesis and enhance connections between existing ones.
It is a potent way to improve your brain health and functioning, by increasing white matter in various areas of the brain, like the parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and corpus callosum, associated with:
- language
- comprehension
- understanding
- learning
- memorizing and recall
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”
—Joseph Addison
The most fascinating aspect of reading is that different genres activate different parts of the brain.
Mental Benefits
Research has found reading for just 30 minutes can reduce the physical and emotional signs of stress.
A 2009 study involving undergraduate students compared the effects of reading, watching humorous videos, and practicing yoga on stress levels. It found that the students who read news articles for just 30 minutes experienced the lowest stress score.
It also showed a decrease in physical marks of stress, such as blood pressure and heart rate.
However, the study shows that the news was neutral and that’s why stress levels decreased. Reading the news can be stressful for some people and you should instead opt for novels, non-fiction, or other materials.
It expands your knowledge
It is tempting to say that YouTube is enough to learn anything. While a video can help us grasp the subject, it doesn’t allow for a deeper exploration of the topic’s full depth.
Books can help us develop new vocabulary, and learn new things from the infinite knowledge written by many of the most intelligent authors of history.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
— Dr. Seuss
Studying a self-help book gives you access to the lifetime wisdom of some of the most intelligent minds in history at your fingertips.
How to Take Advantage of Reading
Today’s generation is very reluctant to read books, and may find it boring.
This trend is fueled not only by the rise of social media but also by societal stereotypes that label avid readers as ‘nerds.’
It’s normal because reading requires more brain power than scrolling on social media or binge-watching a full series on Netflix.
So, what should you do instead?
Well, that’s the framework:
- Buy a book you’re interested in. (Physical books are better because they activate more parts of the brain)
- Set yourself a daily goal — I want to read 1 page every day. (Start small)
- Plan a daily ritual when you’re going to read. (It could be after meditating in the morning or brushing your teeth in the evening)
- Increase the number of pages as you adapt to the new habit.
That’s all for today.
Sources: 5 Ways Reading Benefits You, 14 Ways Reading Improves Your Mind and Body
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Thank you for reading!
