Scientific studies have proven that reading books brings numerous benefits to your mental health and helps you improve yourself comprehensively. We are living in a world of distractions, where Facebook notifications, emails, social media updates, and app updates constantly interrupt our lives, making it difficult to find moments of peace and relaxation. In a noisy world, where can you find tranquility and focus? The answer is: reading books.
1/ Reading books helps you become a better person
Indeed, reading books helps you become a better person. Why? Books provide a treasure trove of knowledge, opening up new ideas and perspectives from the minds of others. A 2014 study from the University of Toronto showed that reading books can positively influence our personality by expanding our viewpoints.
Reading books also helps build empathy. In-depth knowledge of issues and complex stories in books can help you understand your colleagues, family members, competitors, and the world around you better.
If you can easily put yourself in the shoes of others, you are more likely to perform better and be more considerate in your decisions. Of course, you can actively broaden your perspective by reading more and gaining a deeper understanding of books on communication and empathy.
2/ Reading books stimulates the brain
Reading books allows you to experience reality through the eyes and perceptions of the author. Spanish researchers found that reading books about specific odors (such as jasmine, cinnamon, or garlic) can stimulate the olfactory centers of the brain. Meanwhile, French researchers noted that reading books about action (such as soccer books) can help improve motor function.
No Reading – No Warren Buffett, Mark Cuban
The habit of reading books every day is the most profitable “investment” in one’s life
This helps enhance and stimulate nerve cells, allowing you to be more creative, think more clearly and seriously, ask better questions, and connect mentally faster. In return, this also helps keep your brain healthy.
3/ Reading books helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease
Simple reading and meditation activities can help reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and mental health issues such as depression. When you focus on reading a book, it helps calm and concentrate your brain. Just as regular exercise keeps your muscles firm, mental exercise also helps keep your brain healthy.
A study from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago supports this, stating that frequent readers may have a healthier brain, especially as they age.
4/ Reading books helps reduce stress
Taking time to read books is one of the best measures you can take for your mental health. Dr. David Lewis of the University of Sussex – a pioneering researcher in neurology – noted that reading a book for just 6 minutes can reduce stress levels by 60%, regulate heart rate, reduce muscle tension, and change your psychological state. If you feel stressed at any time during the day, pick up a book and read to feel the positive changes.
5/ Reading more helps you learn faster
This is perhaps the most important and obvious benefit, evidence that reading books brings many benefits to the brain. Reading is the easiest way to provide your brain with new knowledge, take you to a new perspective, and form new ideas. Everything you need to do to change your life is based on great ideas. So, read books every day to explore new potentials and build your knowledge foundation.
You might quickly think that those who don’t read books and become millionaires in this world are just special cases. However, many successful people who read a lot and are good at making money, such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, exist. Knowledge is the fundamental foundation of human development and career. That is also why most of the world’s wealthiest billionaires advise people to read as much as possible.
