Reading is one of the first things we are taught as children. It is an important and vital part of both learning and succeeding in life. However, in my lifetime I have seen a lot of negative thoughts about reading, especially among kids my age. Most people would rather play a video game, or watch television, or even doom scroll on their phone, but reading is definitely more beneficial and is something I believe everyone should be partaking in daily.
Many studies have been done regarding reading and some of the obvious benefits include reducing stress, aiding sleep, keeping your mind sharp, and even possibly bettering relationships in some cases. Let’s start with the obvious positive of reading, keeping your mind sharp. Throughout the years many studies have been done and have found that reading may slow mental decline and may even reduce one’s risk of receiving Alzheimer’s disease. This means that even by reading your favorite genre of book or even the newspaper in the morning, you are keeping your mind younger and sharper!
Also sleep and stress relief are the next two more positive benefits of reading. Since reading requires such concentration and focus, researchers have found that people who read for just six minutes experienced a reduction in muscle tension along with a slower heart rate. This settles down the body and allows for relaxation. Reading is also like a domino effect because if you reduce your stress levels by doing so, then you are also increasing the strength of your immune system. Now, let’s talk about sleep. Reading is an excellent way to relax your brain and make you naturally tired, so it is a great ritual to do every night before bed. It is definitely more effective than scrolling on your phone or watching television. It has been found that bright lights actually stimulate your brain and deprive you of higher quality sleep, so reading is definitely a better route!
Lastly, reading can even have a way of bettering your relationships. For example, reading can build empathy within you for others making you a more caring and understanding person. Reading about different people and their life stories can break you out of your comfort shell and bubble and give you a better look at what things are like in the real world. Furthermore, reading may be a way for you to relate to someone depending on what you are reading and can even help us articulate our own experiences. So as we can see, there are many benefits to reading and if it is not something you enjoy perhaps start small and with a genre you are really interested in. Then perhaps over time, you will be more open to reading different genres and learning more! If you are someone who loves reading, then you have just discovered that your favorite hobby is helping you greatly.
Work Cited
“Health benefits of reading.” Piedmont Healthcare, 2025, https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/health-benefits-of-reading. Accessed 10 March 2025.