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 the latest 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. Most 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.
- 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 – www.wordsmith.org
- Weboword – www.weboword.com
- Wordia – www.wordia.com
- Vocab Vitamins – www.myvocabulary.com
- 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.
