We have so many choices when it comes to how we spend our time. Why should we read when there are movies, TV shows, video games, and more? Reading both fiction and non-fiction comes with a wide range of benefits. Here are seven reasons why reading is important:1. It improves your creativity and imagination
If you ever feel stuck creatively, reading can stretch those muscles. When you read a book, especially fiction, it stimulates your imagination. Your mind paints a picture of what you’re reading, so you be
come an active participant in the activity. At least one study supports this benefit. 100 people read either a fictional story or a nonfiction essay, and then completed a questionnaire. The fiction readers were more creative in their answers than the essay readers.
2.Exercise Your Brain
Why is reading important? As the 17th century English writer Joseph Addison once wrote, "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." So, what does reading do to your brain? Research has confirmed that reading stimulates a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. Plus, as you improve your reading ability, these networks become stronger and more sophisticated.
3. It helps you learn
To grow as a person, you always want to stay curious and keep learning. There will always be things you don’t know, and reading can bridge the gaps and open up new worlds. If you are interested in the craft of writing at all, you know that some of the best authors recommend lots of reading. The more you read, the more familiar you become with structure, character development, and writing styles. This applies to both fiction and nonfiction writing. Even if you don’t need to write much in your daily life, reading prepares you for any time when you might need to, whether it’s a Christmas letter, email, personal blog, or journal entry.
4. It increases your vocabulary
Without a doubt, reading has a beneficial effect on vocabulary. Studies have shown, time and time again, someone also discovered that avid readers have a 50% larger vocabulary. This is most likely because the more you read, the more unfamiliar words you come across. You can learn the meanings either through context or looking them up, and over time, your vocabulary gets bigger and bigger. The process of learning new words is good for your brain.
5.Improve Your Memory
Are you always forgetting things? Do you have a bunch of to do lists , but you can't quite remember what's on them? Fear not – one of the advantages of reading books is that it can improve your memory. When you read a non-fiction book, you also consume an enormous amount of information on the subject you're reading about. Similarly, whenever you read a novel, you have to remember tons of information about the story's plot and subplots, the characters and their relationships, and the environment in which the story takes place. That's a lot of information! All of this new information creates new memories. And every new memory strengthens old ones. The upshot? Reading every day can improve your memory – it can help you learn how to store new information and recall memories more effectively.
6. Improve Your Communication Skills
The ability to communicate effectively is a vital life skill. In fact, one study discovered that 69% of employers are looking to hire people with "soft" skills, such as effective communication. The good news? One of the key benefits of reading is that it helps us to communicate better. How? Reading every day can improve our communication skills in a few ways. For example, reading can influence your writing and increase your vocabulary. When we read well-written work, we naturally observe its writing style, cadence, and composition. These characteristics inevitably seep into our writing, in the same way that musicians are influenced by each other. What's more, studies show that those who read regularly tend to develop large vocabularies. Finally, don't forget that reading also helps improve our communication skills by increasing our ability to empathize and understand others. Long story short? Read more, communicate better, and improve your life!
7.It reduces stress and extend your life
Stress is a common problem these days and there are many ways to deal with it. Reading is one of the best. A 2009 study conducted by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex discovered that after people read quietly for just six minutes, their heart rates slowed down and they had less muscle tension. Their stress levels actually reduced by an impressive 68%, making reading more effective than talking a walk or listening to music. By focusing their minds on what they were reading, people could distance and distract themselves from anxious thoughts and feelings.
It turns out that the health benefits of reading can help us live longer. A 12-year study on health and retirement found that those who read books survived around two years longer than those who didn't read books or read magazines and other forms of media. Additionally, those who read for 30 minutes a day (3.5 hours per week) were 23% more likely to outlive those who didn't read often.