As we get older, we tend to either read less or completely stop reading books altogether. Of course, in the modern world, we’re always ‘reading’ and inhaling information through social media, whether that’s seeing a funny tweet or liking your friends Facebook status. However, going back to the basics and reading a couple of pages (or chapters!) of a book every day can have serious benefits to you and your future. Therefore, Prestige Recruitment Group have created a list of the top five reasons why you should be scheduling time into your week to read a good book!
1) Reading Supplies Mental Stimulation and Improves Memory
In the words of Joseph Addison, ‘reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.’ It’s true! Scientific studies have shown that reading makes you smarter – it increases blood flow and improves connectivity in the brain.
Other studies have also shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of Dementia as keeping your brain active prevents it from losing power. When you read a book, you have to remember characters and their backgrounds as well as subplots that weave their way through the story – doing this is great for your memory in the long run! Every new memory you create forges new synapses and strengthens existing ones and so assists in short-term memory recall.
2) Reading Reduces Stress
Reading is a great way to relax and ease tension in your body while stimulating your brain and letting it wander to new ideas and places. No matter how much stress you are feeling at work or in your personal life, being able to pick up a book and escape to another world can help you forget about your worries and chill out, even if just for a little while.
3) Reading Makes You a Better Writer and a Better Conversationalist
When you take the time to sit down and read a book, your brain will absorb writing techniques and vocabulary, even if you’re not aware of it. New words will appear in their natural context and you are able to figure out what they mean by reading the words around it, and so your vocabulary will increase.
Basically, the more you read, the more words and writing techniques you will gain exposure to, which will make their way into your everyday writing and speaking style. By reading and increasing how you articulate, you can seriously aid your career as managers are always looking for individuals with great communication skills!
4) Reading Increases Analytical Thinking Skills
When you’re reading, you are often trying to solve and understand the plot before you have even finished the book. By doing this, you are putting your critical and analytical thinking skills to work. This ability is also used when you review a novel and think about whether you liked the characters, and whether the plot developed well. The more you read, the more you use and develop these skills.
5) Reading Increases Your Knowledge
Depending on what your reading, reading can teach you politics, cultures, economics and history. When novels are set in the past, even if they’re fictional, they are often submerged into truth with historic dates and facts. As well as this, if a novel is set in a different country, you will pick up information about that country and further expand your knowledge on different cultures across the world. This is particularly true in regard to non-fiction books. There are tonnes of books that exist, such as self-help books which not only increase your knowledge, but also your motivation and determination.
With all of these great benefits in mind, what will your next book be?