As bookish people, we’re always down to read a good book. But did you know that reading weekly is good for your health? The kind of book doesn’t matter, nor how you choose to read it, so we can all enjoy our favorite books knowing that we’re helping our health. Here are just a few ways reading improves health.
Not Looking At Screens (Unless You’re Reading Off a Screen)
Let’s face it: we’re all on screens a lot. It’s just a fact of modern life. It’s not healthy to be on them for too long during the day, which is where books come in. (Unless, as mentioned earlier, you prefer to read off a screen.) Whether you prefer physical books or audiobooks, they give your eyes a break and let you relax into a story.
A Way to Destress From Reality
Reality is a little too much to handle sometimes, and we all need a break now and then. Books are a perfect way to get your mind off whatever you’re stressing about and relax in a literary world, whether fiction or nonfiction. This will also help your body relax by lowering your heart rate and easing tense muscles.
Physical Health Benefits
Books are great for mental and emotional health, but they also impact physical health, too. Reading helps reduce stress, which can lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality, among other benefits. This depends on the subject matter, as upsetting or distressing content is unlikely to lead to such benefits. But reading a good novel in your favorite genre will likely reap these benefits.
Keep Your Mind Sharp
Those who read can keep their minds sharp. It helps improve our brain function and memory, expanding our mindsets and introducing us to ideas and concepts we’d never known about before. Reading is learning, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, a children’s book or an adult book. There’s always something to learn that helps our brains stay in good shape as we age.
You (Might) Live Longer
A study found that people who read books in any form live an average of two years longer than those who don’t. This, of course, doesn’t count things like accidents or unexpected events, but it’s still an interesting find. With all the health benefits mentioned above, it’s no wonder that we bookish people live longer.
These are just a few ways reading is healthy. So next time someone rolls their eyes at you for reading, remember that you’re caring for your health!
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