Making
sure you’re maintaining your mental health
is much more crucial than ever, and one of the simplest ways to do so is by
picking up a book.
Reading
is a great way to spend time if you want to avoid social interaction and
has been shown to improve general mental health.
There is a book out there for everyone to appreciate, from autobiographies to romance
fiction.
Listed
below are just a few advantages of reading:
1. Ready
to Decrease Stress
The
world could use some stress
relief, and reading is one of the finest ways to accomplish it. By picking up a
book, we can step outside of the present and allow our brains to wander. According
to a 2009 study, reading was more successful than drinking tea or listening to
music at reducing participants’ stress levels by over 70%. They have discovered
that simply six minutes of reading might significantly reduce stress. According
to a different study, 30 minutes of reading can lower stress
by just as much as a similar-length yoga session. To learn more about why reading
is good for mental health, seek Online
Counselling from the Top Psychologist in India
at TalktoAngel No. 1 E-Mental Health Wellbeing Platform in India, UAE, Dubai,
Abu Dhabi, Singapore, London, and Australia.
2. Read
before bed to unwind
Maintaining
good general health requires getting a decent night’s sleep. It aids in
resetting and recharging your body for the following day. However, it isn’t
always that simple. Your thoughts may wander, and before you know it, the alarm
may sound. Reading before bed can aid in your ability to get a good night’s
sleep. You may unwind and relax before night by putting your phone down and
taking up a book. And by “book,” we mean a physical book with pages,
not an e-reader or tablet, whose bright screens can make it difficult
to fall asleep.
3. Strengthens
Your Brain
Reading
is a lot like working out your brain. It strengthens all the crucial mental
muscles that are required for peak performance. Reading helps you to keep your
mind engaged in a positive task, which strengthens your brain by being focused.
Our
memory skills gradually develop better as a result of having to pay attention
and follow words. You can expand your vocabulary as a result. Better
conversational skills can result from this, which can greatly improve
communication. This translates into higher academic performance and, as you
become older, even better job interviews or career chances.
4. Enhances
your capacity for empathy
Although
it might not come to mind when you’re going to grab a book, studies have
demonstrated that reading can improve your ability to comprehend the emotions
of others. When reading fiction over a longer length of time, this is
especially true. According to research, reading fiction books can aid with
something called “Theory of Mind,” which enables readers to
comprehend the “desires and beliefs” of others.
5. Can
Aid in Treating Mental Illness
Reading
can be therapeutic. The practice is now so well-known that it has its own name:
bibliotherapy. There are bibliotherapists who specialize in prescribing books
to treat conditions like anxiety,
bereavement, or depression.
People with mental health
concerns can greatly benefit from these self-help books, either on their own or
in conjunction with in-person counselling.
However,
other literature besides “self-help” books is also suggested.
Reading fiction can improve your sense of community and support those who might
be struggling with sadness or anxiety.
It enables you to read with a more vivid imagination, empathize with people,
and reflect on your own emotions, issues, and desires.
6. Reduced
dementia symptoms
Reading
keeps the brain active, which helps with conditions like Alzheimer’s. The
likelihood of developing the condition can be increased by brain inactivity.
According to a study, elderly adults who read frequently had a 2.5 times lower
risk of developing Alzheimer’s. But start reading now instead of waiting
until you’re older! It has been demonstrated that starting young can help
prevent many symptoms of dementia, thus the earlier you start, the better for
your brain.
7. Teenagers
who read gain an understanding of what it’s like to be an adult.
Being
an adult can be challenging because so many things change throughout this time,
making self-identity exploration essential. According to research, teenagers who read for enjoyment have three important advantages: reading improves social
involvement, academic performance, and personal growth. Fiction aided teenagers
in their transition from being children
to adults by offering essential insights about mature relationships,
personal values, and cultural identity.
8. Reading
can increase intelligence
Reading
is a lot like working out your brain. It strengthens all the crucial mental
muscles that are required for peak performance.
9. Reading Improves Literacy
Reading books
increases your literary power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to
new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows, along with your
ability to communicate effectively. Furthermore, reading improves writing
skills by helping you understand and learn different writing styles. Our memory skills gradually develop better as a result
of having to pay attention and follow words. You can expand your vocabulary as
a result. Better conversational skills can result from this, which can greatly
improve communication. This translates into higher academic performance and, as
you become older, even better job interviews or career chances.
10. Reading Sets a Positive Example
Reading fosters
language development and can set a positive example by modeling the behavior
yourself. Children have excellent skills in copying or mimicking the adults around
them which means that if you regularly set aside some “me time” for reading, your children will learn to follow
you.
11. Reading Teaches Empathy
Reading
books imparts to us the skill to relate to others by often putting us in the shoes of
the narrator, fostering empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the
feelings of another.
If
you want to develop and nurture your or your child’s personality, seeking
consultation with the best psychologists will help you understand the emotional needs
of the child, enable you to understand your needs and limitations better, and
healthily address them all. You can also meet in the clinic with the best
clinical psychologists & parenting coaches at Psychowellness
Center, a multi-location clinic at Janakpuri, Dwarka, Vasant Vihar, Gurgaon,
NOIDA, Faridabad, and Delhi NCR.
#psychologistdwarka,
#lifecoach, #psychologistdelhi
Contributed by:-
Dr (Prof) R K Suri Clinical
Psychologist & Ms. Varshini Nayyar