The Mental Health Benefits of Reading

Whether you’re a child or an adult, reading is beneficial for all ages. However, too many people are forgetting about the importance of reading for their mental health, and that’s a shame.

By reading, we are talking about the benefits of sitting down and spending a good amount of time immersing themselves in the fiction or nonfiction world those words contain. Furthermore,  the mental health benefits of reading as described below will encourage more shelfies and less selfies in the future.

Reading to Winding Down

Many people aren’t sleeping enough. One of these reasons is due to the inability to mentally shut down the ups and downs of their day. Insufficient sleep can affect a person’s mental health very quickly.

Instead of whipping out a phone at bedtime, which can make the problem worse, reading a book can calm you down and relax you. It’s great for kids, too, who think that bedtime sucks, but fall asleep as soon as they read a bedtime story. 

Reading Can Help With Your Empathy

Empathy is a largely sought after trait for children, but one to focus on for adults as well. Reading stories is a critical way to increase your level of empathy. Whether fiction or nonfiction, reading about people who are different from you has countless benefits. Reading allows access to new types of people or ideas that people may have otherwise ignored.

When you read stories about people who are different races, income levels, and from other countries, it can help develop your sense of empathy and allow you to grow as a person. If someone you know needs more empathy, give them a book.

Reading Makes You Creative

The more you read, the more creative you’ll be. If you want to excel in your own writing, reading is paramount.  Reading can inspire your writing. Alternatively, it can inspire other works of art, too. Reading often gives new perspectives and ideas that you may have not considered otherwise. If you want to be an artist, consume content that is relevant, or even irrelevant, to what you want to pursue.

Reading is Good for the Brain

With every birthday you have, especially as you grow older, your cognition may decline. One reason for this may be because no one is reading enough. When you read, your functions and brain connectivity may increase as a result.

In turn, whenever you read, you may have a lesser chance of developing dementia. Up to 32 percent, as a matter of fact. It’s a nice way to wind down and clear the mind, all while stimulating the brain and keeping it alive. It’s a great little balance that you can only achieve with reading.

When Reading Isn’t Enough

Reading has been proven to help people overcome trauma. However, there are times you might need an extra push to help offset the trouble your mental health is giving you. While a good book helps, it is no substitute for professional care. Sites such as Regain can help, providing online counseling or therapy in the palm of your hand. 

Develop Reading Habits Early

If you didn’t read much as a kid, it can be harder to develop the habit as you grow older. That’s why you need to start early. If you have kids, then you should talk to them about why reading is awesome, and help them develop habits they can use to be a better reader.

Give them good books, spend a certain amount of time reading, and encourage reading in schools. For more ways you can teach your kid to read, or for some good books your kid will love, check out these book reviews as well as The Anatomy of a Diverse Bookshelf.

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