By: Roeyna May Famisaran
READING books is fun. It takes you to a whole new world, makes you go through an upheaval of emotions, discover various personalities, and learn substantial things. It gives you a lot more than just having a hobby. It gives you experiences and lessons. It gives you hope and love.
In fact, one of the most common traits of the most successful people in this world is their love for books. When asked on his secret to success, top businessman Warren Buffet revealed that he reads almost 500 pages a day.
“That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest,” he explains in an article published on usatoday.com.
Further, Bill Gates reads around 50 books a year. Mark Zuckerberg reads a book every two weeks. Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk are certified bookworms.
I love reading. I know there is now the convenience of reading books through a gadget. But I’m still one of those people who choose the old-fashioned way – spending hours in a bookstore, curling up in my bed, and reading it page by page. The smell of new books makes me high; it gives me a certain kind of mental orgasm.
If you can’t remember the last time you read a book, it’s time to go back on track. If you’re too lazy to read and your “reading” habits center around tweets and Facebook statuses, remember these following reading benefits:
- Reading makes you intelligent
Reading is usually one of the basic foundations of learning. According to a study conducted at the University of Berkeley in California, children who are exposed to books learn 50 percent more words than watching television or having conversations with young adults.
Furthermore, a study published on sciendaily.com reveals that stronger reading skills in your childhood may mean higher intelligence later in life. The researchers from University of Edinburgh and King’s College in London studied 1,890 identical twins. They found out that “earlier differences in reading between the twins were linked to later differences in intelligence.”
“Reading was associated not only with measures of verbal intelligence (such as vocabulary tests) but with measures of nonverbal intelligence as well (such as reasoning tests),” the article said.
Moreover, reading is a kind of mental exercise that gives you brain power. It enhances your memory, according to a report published on neurology.org.
- Reading reduces stress
Most of us are stressed these days. The exhausting hours at work, toxic bosses, long commutes, and personal issues drain out our mental and physical energy. Do you know one of the best ways to reduce stress? Reading.
Dr. David Lewis, one of the pioneers of neuroscience, said reading decreases stress levels by 68 percent. So if you see yourself stressing out during one of those bad days, it’s time to open a book and indulge yourself. Plus, this literal page-turner activity is a cheaper method of de-stressing.
- Reading improves your writing skills
Good writers are avid readers. For you to enhance your writing skills, you need to read a lot. I remember hearing the same advice from Palanca Hall of Famer Dr. Leoncio Deriada.
“If you want to be a better writer, read. Never stop reading,” he says.
Reading makes you discover new words, thus, expanding your vocabulary.
- Reading helps you sleep better
People who have problems with their sleep should include reading in their bedtime ritual. Mayo Clinic explains reading before bed “signals your body that it’s time to go to sleep.” It is also important to note that you should read a real book – not a digital one as tablets and other gadgets can keep you awake and destroy your sleeping pattern.
- Reading improves your imagination and creativity
Books play with your imagination. An article published in whytoread.com says reading helps you expand your understanding on what is described on the book.
“By reading a written description of an event or a place, your mind is responsible for creating that image in your head, instead of having the image placed in front of you when you watch television,” the article says.
Read. It has a lot of benefits. In the modern times where reading seems to be an old-fashioned habit, it is good to indulge yourself in literature, news and true-to-life stories. It makes you realize how a simple activity can do something great in your life. As what Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”/PN
