The benefits of reading
Reading can be defined as a psycho sensory activity that aims to give meaning to graphic signs collected by the vision and which involves both perceptual and cognitive processing.
The seven benefits of reading
1. Literature improves emotional intelligence
A study published in Science reveals that reading literary masterpieces (not popular fiction) increase the ability to recognize the emotions of others: superior literature forces you to use your own interpretation to better understand complex characters. Readers would use these skills in their daily lives.
2. Reading prevents stress
According to a 2009 study by the British University of Sussex, reading is the most effective way to fight stress. Participants only needed six minutes to calm down once they had a book in hand. Reading is even more soothing than listening to music, drinking a cup of coffee or tea, or even going for a walk. "To relax, no matter what book you read. Getting carried away by a story allows you to escape the worries and tensions of the day and get caught up in the fantasy world of the author" said researcher David Lewis at The Telegraph newspaper.
3. Reading keeps the brain fit.
According to a study published in the journal Neurology, reading for a lifetime would help keep the brain in shape. Of the 294 participants who died on average at age 89, people who performed "mental" activities such as reading suffered fewer memory problems than those who did not. People who practiced such occupations at older ages had a 32 percent lower risk of mental decay than their counterparts with average mental activity. People who engaged in little or no mental activity experienced decay that increased in speed by 48 percent compared to the group with average mental activity.
4. Reading reduces the risk of Alzheimer's
In 2011, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published the results of a survey revealing that adults who practice brain-intensive hobbies, such as reading and crossword puzzles, are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease even though the researchers admitted that it was not a causal relationship, but an association. "The results could mean that inactivity is a risk factor for the disease or that inactivity reflects very advanced subclinical effects of the disease or both," the scientists wrote.
5. Reading would help you sleep better
Many sleep experts recommend a relaxing routine before bed to calm the mind and prepare the body for sleep. Reading (with a nightlight) can be a huge help, provided the book isn't an impossible-to-put-down thriller. And we are talking about paper books since the light from electronic devices signals to the brain that it is time to get up, which makes it difficult to fall asleep easily.
6. Reading increases empathy skills
According to a Dutch study revealed by the magazine PLOS ONE, people who really allow themselves to be carried away by fiction show more empathy. Readers who don't get carried away don't show more empathy. This also applies to readers who do not read fiction.
7. Self-help books are effective against depression
Self-help books can help you help yourself. PLOS ONE published a study from the University of Glasgow showing that reading personal development books, also called "bibliotherapy" associated with sessions explaining their use, leads to fewer depression in one year compared to patients undergoing traditional therapy. According to the University of Manchester, these books could even help people suffering from deep depression.
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