Reading Helps You Sleep Better

Improving your sleep hygiene is a key part of getting quality zzz’s, and reading before bed can be a great part of your bedtime routine. According to Dr. Michael Mosley, author of Fast Asleep, if you’re trying to improve your slumber, “using your smartphone in bed is a very bad idea, as is having a television in the bedroom.” Instead, he advises disconnecting from tech and winding down with a calming activity, such as a reading a book or listening to music.

Reading Boosts Your Imagination

When we read we paint a picture of characters, places, and events. We can become so involved in a story that literary terms such as “rough day” light up our brain’s sensory response, according to a 2012 study in Brain & Language. Likewise, research shows that even reading about someone kicking a ball activates our motor cortex. So while you might not literally be playing sports, figuratively, it’s a mental workout.

Reading Fiction Helps You Empathize

According to a 2013 study in PLOS One, readers who were emotionally transported into a story, particularly fiction, saw their empathy grow over the course of a week. Not only do we share in the characters’ sorrows, but we feel their joy as well—and who couldn’t use more of that?

Reading Builds Your Vocabulary

Seeing a word in different contexts helps us remember it and learn how to use it. So, the more often we encounter even the trickiest words, the more likely we are to remember them. Make reading a daily habit to expand your vocabulary at any age.

Reading Reduces Stress

A 2009 commercial study conducted by Mindlab International found that reading reduced stress in its subjects in just six minutes—by 60 per cent. So instead of turning to your phone to scroll when you have a few spare minutes, try reading a book to reduce stress levels. Add a cup of tea and a pair of cozy reading socks for maximum relaxation.

Reading Keeps Your Brain Healthy

Reading a book is an expert-recommended way to exercise your brain, one that is as important as doing physical exercise as we age. A 2018 study in JAMA Psychiatry showed that engaging in brain-stimulating activities, such as reading or playing games, can delay or prevent dementia, while research shows that it can help preserve memory. The best part? Read anything that you enjoy—bonus points for making it mindful.