Benefits of Reading: Reduce stress with 6 minutes a day

Why should we read? Does it matter what we read? How much should we be reading? Discover the answers to these questions and more as we discuss the benefits of reading.

Reading is fun!

Action Education states that approximately 14% of the world's population cannot read. Humans don't NEED to read. So, why do it?

There are many benefits of reading. Let's go through some of them:

Reading keeps our brains fit and healthy

I work in aged care with many people who are living with dementia. Although we don't know a specific cause or cure for dementia, we do know that our brains are like a muscle and abide by the same rule: Use it or lose it. We all know that if we don't access certain information or use a certain skill, then we run the risk of losing that knowledge or ability. We can exercise our brains to strengthen them and help to delay the onset and progression of cognitive decline. Of course, we can exercise our brains in many ways: puzzles, word and memory games, and meditation. But reading is a great way to exercise our brains to keep them fit and healthy.

Reading helps us gain knowledge... and empathy

You don't need to read non-fiction to learn. Reading anything helps to improve our vocabulary and can aid in our understanding of other people. Reading helps to teach us about the lives of other people in other places, in situations much different than our own (even fictional ones). This can increase our empathy and ability to relate to others.

Reading helps to reduce stress (Hint: It doesn't take much!)

Anxiety Centre refers to a 2009 UK study that found reading for only 6 minutes a day can help to reduce stress by up to 68%.

According to World Population Review, Australians read an average of 10 books per year and spend an average of 217 hours reading per year. 217 hours divided by 365 days works out to approximately 35 minutes per day. Well done to the average Aussies!

Read this book. (Photo: Golden Plains Times)

There is a lot of information about the benefits of reading, and how those benefits can be measured. Healthline suggests that reading can improve sleep and help you live longer. University of The People suggests that reading can improve your communication skills, 'enhance your identity', and boost creativity. And of course, reading is fun if you choose something to read that you enjoy. Reading does not need to be a chore. It doesn't matter if you read a fiction novel, a comic, a biography, a religious text, or the back of a cereal box. Just read!

The hardest part is stopping the scroll or switching off the screen.

Happy reading!

Much love,

Marley x

P.S. This blog post counts towards your 6 minutes today - Yay for you! Only 3.5 minutes to go.

Places to go for more reading/information:

Glad Readers: 17 Reasons Why Reading is Important For Everyone

Readers Digest: 11 Science-Backed Benefits of Reading, According to Experts

Daily Mail Australia: How a Book Can Really Change Your Life: Brain Function Improves for DAYS after reading a novel

Also, I touched on the benefits of reading in one of my very first blog posts: '8 Reasons Why You Must Read This Book'. It also explains why I write a blog. I woke up at 4:47 am on the day I wrote that post. I was crazy back then lol

Need something fun to read? Download my fictional novella, The Silver Maid, for FREE!

Now, go read!

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