5 Benefits of Reading

It is unfortunate that many people read because they feel they have to. Anyone who goes through a school definitely has to read. Consequently, many just read for the sake of passing exams. Once the schooling period is over, they drop the reading habit. You might be tempted to do that too. You comfort yourself by saying, "does reading really help?" There are several advantages of reading but this post highlights 5 great benefits of reading.

The act of "reading" I'm talking about here isn't limited to academic books only. You can read fashion magazines, newspapers, legal articles or even novels. They all have some information that might come in handy someday. You never know.

You might be wondering how reading a novel benefits you. You might also be of the opinion that newspapers have nothing to offer but bad news. Know this: no knowledge, no matter how small or irrevelant it appears to be is a waste.

Reading, irrespective of what you read has a lot of benefits.

Below are 5 significant benefits of reading:

Reading increases your knowledge

It is said that knowledge is power. If you don't read, how do you get knowledge? If you don't have knowledge, how do you get the supposed power that comes from it? Anything you read adds some more knowledge to what you already know. This equips you to handle challenges better.

Reading improves your memory

Memory is the particular act of recall or recollection according to Merriam Webster's dictionary. Reading improves this act of recall. How?

Did you know that with every new memory you create, new brain pathways are forged? Existing ones are also strengthened.This increases your ability to recall things.

So, it is safe to conclude that the more you read, the better your ability to recall things.

Reading expands your vocabulary

Everytime you read, you come across new words. When you look it up in the dictionary, you automatically learn the word. This helps to build up your language vocabulary. It gives you the confidence to speak in public.

Being well-read and articulate in a variety of topics also helps to boost your self-esteem as an individual.

Reading improves your writing skills

If you read constantly and regularly, putting pen to paper to produce a masterpiece won't be a problem. Reading another person's work as a writer can help you learn the hang of it. Consequently it assists you in writing your own work too.

This also goes hand in hand with vocabulary expansion. The more words you know, the easier it becomes to write.

Reading reduces stress

Have you ever picked up a good novel to read when you were stressed? What did you notice?

Well I noticed that I got relaxed while I read. Getting yourself lost in a world of your own while reading helps to relieve tension. This is because when you read a novel or something that gets your attention, you focus. This takes your mind away from your worries and then your body relaxes.

Even when you're done reading, because you're calm, you can think better and take the right decisions.

When was the last time you read a book or even a newspaper? If you haven't established a daily reading habit, you are definitely missing the benefits of reading.