Short answer: yes. Long answer: It depends on what you read and why you read. This article will dive into the main reasons why picking up a reading habit can foster long-term happiness.
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
It creates a connection.
Figuratively, when you are reading, you aren’t alone. You have the characters on the pages with you. The characters that you relate to can help you process life. Grief, love, fear, and more, these book characters are written with it, and so are you.
Reading also increases empathy. You’ll understand others better and be able to read emotions. This enhances social skills and fosters connection.
Reading may encourage you to join a book club, where you will have real-life connections, form friendships, and enjoy discussing books with like-minded individuals.
It’s meditative
Books allow you to step outside of your own head and into another world. This can lower your stress, slow your breathing, and give your nervous system a break from everyday stress. This is exactly what meditation does!
This way, you have a calmer inner world, better to take on the stressors that you will return to when you put down the book.
The physiological benefits are not just short-term, either. Studies show that regular meditative practices lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality over time, reducing your risk of secondary health complications.
One more way it benefits long-term health is by reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. It does this by increasing your cognitive reserve and making the brain more resilient to damage.
Dopamine = happiness
The plot twists and carefully chosen words of a good book are enough to give you a little dopamine hit every time you read. Dopamine is the “happy” chemical in our brains, associated with reward and mood.
Dopamine is released when we consume short-form content, and researchers say that it is overloading our reward systems. So, reading might be hard at first. But as you practice slow dopamine activities, your brain will become stronger.
Sharpen analytical thinking
Reading is proven to boost pattern recognition, which can enhance your understanding of everyday situations. This boosts happiness because there is nothing more rewarding than understanding the world around you!
It might just change your life!
The right book has the power to change your life. Whether you gain a new perspective, learn something new, or discover something about yourself, a good book is powerful. Check out this series, Books That Changed My Life, for insight into some formative books.
Their most recent episode is available here.
Remember:
Books are not magical happy pills. If you’re forcing yourself to read or if reading is bringing you more stress than tranquility, it might not be for you.
However, reading is a habit just like any other. Start slow, just 10 minutes a day is enough to start a good routine. When you find the right book, you’ll find that reading comes easily; you won’t want to put the book down.
This article has helpful tips on how to create a reading habit!
Also read: The Human Element AI Books Are Missing
