One of the best uses of your time is reading books. It can greatly enhance what you know and broaden your worldview, making you a better-rounded person. Billionaire Warren Buffett estimates that he spends as much as 80% of his day reading. In general, people who regularly read a good number of books are more successful and satisfied with their lives than those who do not. Reading books is not only a good habit to practice for your personal fulfillment and career advancement, it can also be a great source of entertainment. A well-written book has the ability to brighten up your day and bring a smile to your face.
If you are not a habitual reader, here are several benefits which will hopefully persuade you to take up a book or two:
Well-written books can greatly enhance our mental wellbeing and make us feel less stressful and anxious. Research has shown that those who read frequently tend to be able to maintain a state of calm and relaxation during stressful moments. If you are dealing with a lot of stress at your workplace or in your personal life, reading a nice book can help you to feel better. One good tip is to find an engaging story and really delve deep into it, losing yourself in that fictional world. Keep reading that book for a good thirty minutes or so and you will find yourself far removed from any stressors that happen to be keeping you down.
Do you want to have a more sophisticated vocabulary when you’re engaging in conversation with your friends and significant others? Do you want to have a better ability to communicate your ideas to your bosses and colleagues at the workplace? Have you ever felt embarrassed when you’re unable to adequately express a thought in your mind? If so, then you should consider picking up a decent book and spending a few hours out of your day reading. This practice will allow you to naturally expand your word range, adding to your pool of vocabulary.
Reading books is an activity that demands a lot of attention and focus. You can build your ability to concentrate by practicing over time. If you focus on the task of reading for no more than an hour each day, you will hone your concentration skills, which will allow you to focus on other aspects of life as well. Whether you're trying to master a new set of competencies or wish to start a business, your ability to focus will be vital to achieving success. Reading is something that will certainly help you to improve in that regard.
The most common advice that prominent wordsmiths from around the globe provide is to make reading a daily habit if you wish to become a good writer. No matter what you intend to do in your career or beyond, if you're a habitual reader, you will naturally develop the skills to become a good writer. Someone once asked Stephen King, one of the most renowned writers of our time, how to become better at writing. His answer was very short and to the point. He said, “By reading more books.”
Do you find it a challenge to remember the names of other people at meet-up events? Do you forget your co-worker's name at important meetings and find yourself in embarrassing situations? If that's the case, consider reading as a great way to build up your memory. In one study, researchers look at the memory and thinking ability of nearly 300 elderly adults every year for 6 years. Habitual book readers appeared to be protected against brain abnormalities often associated with memory lapses, such as dementia. Furthermore, avid readers managed to decrease their memory decline by more than 30% versus other forms of mental activity. Those who read the most often expressed the least physical symptoms of dementia.
In a broad-based study conducted over twenty years, it was discovered that children who were brought up in a household that has access to books were more likely to achieve higher education. Even after income and education level factors have been accounted for, children who have more books in their home will go on to attain higher levels of education compared to children who have fewer books in their home. Specifically, it was found that children who grew up in homes with many books averaged a total of three years more schooling than that of children from homes without books, independent of parental education level, occupation, and class.
Research has found an association between how much reading a person does and their capacity to empathize with others. When shown photographs of faces, habitual book readers demonstrate better skill in interpreting the mental states, feelings, and emotions of others in different situations. While there are negative stereotypes about bookworms as being socially awkward, reading can actually serve as a useful brain exercise, allowing for better interpretation of social cues, thus opening the doors to understanding others more intimately. This is especially helpful for children and teenagers in honing their social intelligence.
Do you enjoy reading books? Share in the comments below!