Now, more than ever, books have become accessible and even cheap. The different formats of a book – hardcover, paperback, digital – have also made reading easier and more varied. But how much time do we really dedicate to reading a book? It’s not a good sign if you can’t remember the last time you read a book, because reading daily is too good of an opportunity to miss.
Reading enriches you mentally and helps keep your brain functioning at its peak. But we are talking about reading books, not magazines, newspapers, or your favorite blog. While we read, we need to connect characters, actions, and motivations, and compare them to the real world. Here are some reasons why we should try to find time for a book.
Greater emotional intelligence
Reading helps you empathize with all kinds of different people you follow on their adventures and challenges. Many of them experience feelings you have already experienced, and this helps you put yourself in their shoes. Of course, you will do this much more in real life if reading is a frequent habit.
A better vocabulary
This is one of the most well-known benefits of reading. Doing it every day helps you connect the words you speak with those you read. The more you read, the more vocabulary you learn, especially if you alternate between genres. Such an increase in vocabulary is undoubtedly an asset on a personal, academic, and professional level.
General knowledge about the world and culture
This happens whether you read a nonfiction story or a fictional one. Even the most fantastic stories are inspired by legends, history, and all the other types of stories that exist in our world. By reading, you access a ton of information that can be useful and interesting.
Better spelling
This is another well-known benefit of reading. It’s true, reading a lot makes you write better. It’s more interesting than memorizing a bunch of spelling rules. The more times you see a word written, the more easily you will remember how to spell it.
No more stress
Taking a break from your obligations (and especially from worries) to read every day is very beneficial. It goes beyond just setting aside time for yourself. It also means you are focusing your attention on something that completely captures your mind. If you are focused on what happens in the book, you probably won’t think much about your to-do list for a while.
Critical thinking
The more you read, the more problems you encounter (in fiction, of course). This helps you take a stand in a conflict, as few people don’t form opinions in front of one. While reading, the characters reveal their thoughts on the problem, which will help you decide whether you are with them, against them, or if you want to change your mind.
Fun and entertainment
Nowadays, we consume much more audiovisual content, so we forget that our imagination is the best source of audiovisual entertainment when reading. Imagining characters and places is a lot of fun because you adapt them to your tastes, experiences, and desires.
How to achieve this goal
It’s not easy to start reading if you don’t have the habit. Some have lost the habit, others never had it. Now that you know the importance of reading, focus on how to make it a habit.
Remember that reading is enjoyable. If you don’t have the habit, it may be hard to recall that reading is fun, empowering, and revealing. Just give it a chance.
See each book as an achievement. The positive feeling of finishing it can motivate you to start another.
Take your book everywhere. Whether physical or digital (physical works better), having it on hand is great. Read on public transport or in a waiting room instead of on your phone.
Read when you need time alone. Associating habits strengthens them. Turn alone time into reading time.
Read what you like. You don’t have to finish every book you start. If it doesn’t hold your attention, abandon it and choose another.
Finally, it’s a slow process. Don’t expect to read a lot all at once. Start simple and steady to establish the habit. Then, enjoy and share.
Source: María Hoyos