Has it been ages since you turned the pages?

There are many advantages of spending your quiet time between the covers of a book. Christine Emelone looks at how reading is back in vogue this year.

There are many advantages of reading. It can enable you to build knowledge and empathise with others. It also helps you to understand people and the ways of the world. Here are some benefits of reading.

1. Stress Reduction

After an exhausting day at work or school, there is no better feeling than getting lost in a great story. A well-written novel can allow you to relax and escape from the tensions of day-to-day life.

In addition, reading can broaden your imagination and creativity and take you to another realm. One 2009 study by Sussex University researchers showed that reading may reduce stress by as much as 68 per cent. As turning pages of a book compels you to be still, your body is completely at rest. This invokes clarity and a calm environment.

Becoming absorbed in a diverting story does two things, it can take your mind off an anxiety loop when you’re worried about things in your own life that you can’t control (work pressures, financial issues, problems with children or family); and it gives you a whole new set of people and places to think about. You may discover reading a novel about someone who overcame a problem that makes you anxious helps you feel calmer and more in control.

2. Knowledge

If you desire to be well-informed and capable to hold a conversation on a variety of topics- you need to be a reader. This is one of the primary ways to acquire knowledge.

The knowledge you gain is cumulative and grows exponentially. When you have a cemented knowledge base, it’s easier to learn new things and solve new problems. Reading a wide range of books will help expand your general knowledge. Specific knowledge can be gained by taking a deep-dive on a subject or topic. Filling your mind with new facts, information, and ideas will make you a better person to socialise with as you’ll always have something interesting to talk about.

3. Mental Stimulation

Keeping the brain active slows down cognitive decline as you get older, which means a better memory overall. When you are reading, you have to remember many facts about a character’s background, traits, personality, relationships and more. When you think about it, it is pretty impressive that your brain can retain specific and significant information.

This particular stimulation can help sharpen your mindespecially the part of the brain that is responsible for critical analysis. Reading sharpens this part of the brain much like you would sharpen a knife. This sharpening of the mind will eventually heighten your focus when concentrating on something important.

Research suggests that reading for 30 minutes a week increases health and wellbeing. Reading for pleasure serves to improve our morale and self-esteem. This provides the grounding we need to pursue our goals and make life decisions. To the onlooker, reading can appear to be a solitary and passive activity. But the simple act of picking up a book can do us a world of good.

4. Vocabulary Expansion

The more you read, the more your vocabulary improves. You are shown how to apply new terms into different contexts and use them correctly. This has a direct impact on how effectively you’re able to communicate with others. It is crucial to read different genres of books. Variety is the spice of life and it is also the key to increasing vocabulary. Mystery, science fiction, biography, sports, humor, inspirational, how-to books, history – all have their own unique terms.

Each topic area has particular words to describe both the objects that make up that world and the processes or actions that occur. It also strengthens your ability to express your thoughts and feelings.

Language is such a wonderful resource with so many fantastic words for us to use to express ourselves. When you read, you’ll gain access to a wealth of words that will help you describe how you’re feeling, help you explain a point clearly, and so much more.

5. Improved Focus and Concentration

Concentration is a very important characteristic that enables us to stay attentive to the task at hand. It allows us to follow the storyline of a film. keep up with conversations and contend with the book we’re reading. For you to comprehend and take in what you read, all of your attention should be centred on the words of the page. When you are fully immersed in a book, you’ll be able to tune out external distractions and concentrate on the material in front of you.

A consistent reading habit will heighten your attention span. Reading puts our brain to work and offer a deeper view of ideas, concepts, emotions, and body of knowledge. This will carry over to other aspects of your life such as relationships, family life and interactions in the workplace.