Sunday Relaxation - Reading

I have to admit, I am terrible at sitting down & reading a book. My reading consists of Twitter, client notes, & road signs! It’s something I’m working on because there are multiple benefits to sitting down with a book which we’ll explore here.

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MENTAL STIMULATION

Studies have shown that keeping your brain active can slow the progress of dementia. Your brain needs exercise to keep it strong & healthy & reading is a great way to do it as you fully immerse yourself into a new, imaginary world.

IMPROVING MEMORY

Studies have shown that reading can slow down cognitive decline & decline in memory as it stimulates the brain. Reading a book means you have to remember characters & plots as you go through the story. With every new memory that’s created, you forge a new synapse in your brain & make your brain stronger which helps your short-term memory.

STRESS REDUCTION

After a long, stressful day at work, taking a few minutes to read a book will calm your mood & distract your mind. Allow the story to take you away from your stresses & worries. Choosing a book that interests you & makes you happy is the best way to combat stressful feelings.

KNOWLEDGE

You don’t need to read a novel, reading an article or reference book is just as good. You can increase your knowledge & learn new information & interesting facts about the world. You may find a passion for something you learn along the way! You will also increase your vocabulary as you read more & more. Being more articulate can help you at work as it can give you confidence when speaking with your superiors & can help you get promotions more quickly.

IMPROVED FOCUS & CONCENTRATION

Our lives can be taken over by social media & the constant barrage of notifications that come through each day, meaning our brain is divided between lots of activities & is never truly focused on one thing. Reading means your attention is completely focused on the book which trains your mind to be able to focus on one thing at a time. This can be helpful in work & can help you have a more positive, clear mind.

SLEEP

Getting enough sleep can be hard when we’re feeling stressed or down. Reading before you sleep can be a good part of a bedtime routine as it makes you feel relaxed. Staring at a bright phone screen can signal to your brain that you should be waking up, whereas reading a physical book under low light is much more relaxing & won’t over-stimulate your brain.

EMPATHY

Being a life coach means I practice empathy every day. Reading a fictional book can make it easier for you to relate to others as you read about new characters & their feelings & interactions with others in the story. Empathy helps us to navigate complex social relationships & see the world from other’s perspectives.

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What kinds of books do you read? Are there any books you could recommend to a non-reader like me?

If you aren’t into reading yet, where do you think you’d like to start? Fiction or non-fiction?

Thank you for reading!