Life is busy. Between school, work and family, we barely find the time to eat a meal, let alone read a book. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I read a book or a substantial magazine article?” You might find your answer to be further back in the past that your memory is equipped to recall. If your daily reading habits are centered around theĚýlatest tweets, fb updates and preparation directions for your cream of wheat in the morning, you are one of many people who do not make a habit of reading on a regular basis. ĚýMost people don’t know this, but reading is very beneficial.
- Reading is Mentally Stimulating
According to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, scientist analyzed 15 studies involving 718 men and women with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and their studies show that mental stimulation can slow the progression of and in some instances, prevent Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia because an active brain is slowed from losing power.
Your brain is a muscle, and just like any other muscle in the body, regular exercise keeps it strong and healthy. ĚýIt has been proven that doing puzzles and playing games which require strategy and logic have a part to play in cognitive stimulation. Here are a list of some sites to get you started:
- Reading Expands Vocabulary
The more you read, the more words you are exposed to. The words that you expose yourself to, gradually and inevitably make their way into your vocabulary and you will notice that you use your new words daily. This assists with articulation and can even aid in your career, allowing you to be perceived as well spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics.
If you are interested in reading and using new words, check out the following sites for a new word every day. Think about it, a word a day translates to 365 words over the course of a year, and with the New Year right around the corner, what better time to start than now?
Check out these sites and apps for your word a day:
Wordsmith –
Weboword –
ĚýWordia –
Vocab Vitamins –
- Reading Expands Knowledge
When you read your head is filled with new information, and you never know when you may need it. The more you know, the better equipped you are to handle challenges and you gain something that can never be taken away from you. Knowing.
- Reading Improves Memory
Reading a book forces you to remember characters, situations, circumstances, ambitions, and a variety of dips and elevations when dealing with a plot that is weaving itself into a story. Even when our everyday memory seems to be running away from us, it is important to know that every new memory you create, forges new brain pathways and strengthens existing ones…. So you get a better short term memory for creating new memories…. Awesome!
- Reading Improves Focus and Concentration
In a single 5 minute span, the average working adult will divide their attention between working on task, chatting with people, monitoring social media, interacting with coworkers, checking email and the list goes on, but we are so familiar with functioning in this way that we fail to realize that this type of ADD like behavior increases stress and decreases productivity.
When you read a book, all of your attention is on the book – you may even notice the rest of the world falling away mind tuning into the words before you. Try reading for 15 – 20 minutes before going to work or even listening to a book on tape…. You may be pleasantly surprised at your new found focus.
- Read Your Way to Peace
Immerse yourself in peaceful and tranquil reading material and you may notice a decrease in blood pressure and a sense of calm. Reading self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from mood disorders and some forms of mild mental illness.
- Reading Strengthens your Analytical Thinking
Ever read a story and figured out how it would end before you were finished reading it? If so, you were able to put critical and analytical thinking to work. The same ability to analyze details may be used to critique a plot. This makes you analyze whether the piece is well written, if the characters were properly created, if the story is smooth etc.
- Reading is Entertaining, and FREE!
Sure, buying books is an option, however it may become expensive should you find reading to be something that you enjoy. For low budget entertainment, you can visit the local library and have countless reading opportunities available to you for free. There are also numerous apps that are available for free on your smart devices that can cater to your newly inquisitive nature….all you have to do is download them. Here are a few to get you started:
50000 Free Ebooks and Reader – Oodles Ebook Reader Ěý Ěý
Amazon Kindle – Amazon Mobile LLC
NOOK – Read Books and Magazines
Wattpad – Free Books and Stories
Aldiko Book Reader Premium – Aldiko Limited
Remember there is a reading genre for every literate person in the world. Step away from your computer for a bit and open up a book…..Feed your mind, vocabulary and mood….. Reading is Fundamental.
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