10 Positive Side Effects of Reading Every Day
[RESHARE] Life can get busy sometimes, but you should still make time to read every single day, even if it’s only for a few minutes before bed at night, and especially if you’re a writer.
Here are ten positive side effects of reading every day:
1. Greater Empathy and Understanding of the World
According to multiple studies, reading fiction (especially Literary Fiction) leads to more empathy and higher emotional intelligence levels because it allows readers to intimately experience and see what someone else does and feels. Reading fiction allows readers to process and understand the thoughts and emotions of others, and to keep an open mind. This ensures that readers acquire a greater understanding of the world and the people in it.
2. Higher Levels of Focus and Concentration
In order to read a book, you must sit still and concentrate on the story you’re reading, or at least focus your attention on the story being told long enough to understand what’s happening in the story. So, if you read often, your brain will get into the habit of focusing on whatever story you’re reading and will learn how to focus better over time. Multiple scientific studies show that reading improves one’s memory and their ability to concentrate and that it can even help fight Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Better Communication Skills
Readers tend to be better communicators in general because they have greater empathy levels and critical thinking skills and are comfortable seeing narratives and perspectives from various angles. They also tend to have a large vocabulary and a better understanding of common pop cultural references and colloquialisms that are both within and outside of their own social groups, which can make it easier to communicate with others from similar and diverse backgrounds.
4. Increased Feelings of Relaxation
Studies also show that reading, especially before bed, reduces anxiety and stress levels. And can even help you sleep better and more at night. When you get lost in a novel at the end of the day, you’re not thinking about the things that stressed you out during the day. Instead, you’re taking a break from them. You’re also not staring at a bright screen with blue light, which can significantly impact the quality and duration of your sleep each night.
5. Broader Scope of Knowledge
The more you read, the more you know. Each book you pick up will likely have a different type of character in a new type of place doing something completely different. And this will expand your knowledge about all sorts of topics—everything from geography to random historical factoids, to new dialects and customs, to new types of work and ways of living, etc.
6. Heightened Sense of Creativity
The more you read, the more creative ideas you’ll get. This is why reading every day is so important for writers to do. If you don’t read often enough, you’re more likely to encounter writer’s block. Or you’ll continue to cycle through boring and repetitive ideas, tropes, and phrases, which will make your writing boring.
7. Capability to Evade Boredom Anywhere and Everywhere
If you read every day, you’ll always be in the middle of a book that you can take with you anywhere and everywhere. You can read while you’re waiting in public lines, while you’re waiting for someone else for coffee or a meal, right before bed, etc. You will never be bored if you always have a book with you. And if you’re always reading, you’ll stop endlessly scrolling through social media feeds, too. Maybe not all the time, but at least some of the time. You’ll opt to read instead.
8. Capacity to Read Anywhere and Everywhere
The more you read, the more you’ll want to read. Even going out in public won’t stop you from wanting to read. If you make it a true habit, you’ll easily be able to read in public places, any time of day. Basically, instead of scrolling through your social media feeds on your phone in public, you’ll start reading your book instead.
9. Ability to Spot and Connect with Bookworms Anywhere and Everywhere
Fellow bookworms will also have their books with them, so you’ll easily be able to spot them and spark conversations and connections with them. The bookworm community includes some of the brightest and nicest people out there. There are a ton of book clubs to join, as well, both in person and online. Connecting with fellow readers has never been easier and is incredibly rewarding.
10. Amplified Introspection and Intentional Behavior
The more you read, the more introspective you’ll become over time. As you consider multiple narratives and perspectives, it becomes easier (if not compulsory) to reflect on your own thoughts, feelings, and behavior on a rolling basis. This makes it easier to be intentional about the things you want to do in your own life.
Sources and Extra Reading:
8 Science-Backed Reasons to Read a (Real) Book by Real Simple
The Case for Reading Fiction by Harvard Business Review
Does reading fiction make us better people? by Future; BBC
Novel Finding: Reading Literary Fiction Improves Empathy by Scientific American
© All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton and Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
Today’s Writing Prompt
Complete this sentence for today’s writing prompt: “When she opened the book…” Then try to write a few paragraphs after that sentence, if not more. Be as creative as possible by writing something that might be unexpected in such a setting.
