Alex O'Brien
Books

8 reasons why you should read every day

Every day we hear about new ways we should be looking after our body and physical health, but what about the most important “muscle” of them all? The brain needs to be taken care of just as much as the rest of the body, and reading is a fantastic (and fun!) way to do so. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits daily reading can have on your health.

  1. Mental stimulation – just as it’s important to work out your muscles, it’s essential to exercise your brain, too. Studies have shown that mentally stimulating activities like reading can delay and even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
  2. Relaxation – life can be stressful, so we all need to find a way to unwind at the end of a busy day. A good read can make you completely forget about your troubles and immerse yourself in another world.
  3. Education – even non-educational books have something to teach you, whether it’s about friendship, love or life Itself. You never know when what you’ve read in a book might come in handy! People who are well-read tend to be well-spoken, too, and have a larger vocabulary.
  4. Improved memory – this one becomes more useful the older we get. Ever walk into a room only to forget why you went there? Each time you make a new memory from a book, your recall ability is strengthened.
  5. Better analytical skills – are you one of those people who can guess the ending of a mystery novel early on? We’re betting you’re an avid reader. Book lovers tend to have better analytical and problem-solving skills than non-readers.
  6. Greater focus – the modern world is full of distractions, but people who read tend to be better at blocking out all the noise and concentrating on the task at hand. Try reading before work and you’ll find you’re much more focused.
  7. Improved writing ability – they say readers make the best writers, and it’s not hard to tell why. Thanks to your aforementioned expanded vocabulary, you’ll be much better at stringing together coherent and poignant thoughts.
  8. Free entertainment – if you’re still paying for books, it’s time to stop. There are hundreds of websites out there offering free (and completely legal) eBooks. As an added bonus, your home won’t be stacked up with books you’ve already read – they’re just in your device!

What are you reading at the moment? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Related links:

How to encourage your grandchildren to love reading

20 most touching lines in literature

7 celebrities that you didn’t know have written a book

Tags:
health, education, books, Reading, entertainment