One of our very first milestones as a child is becoming literate.  Sure we weren’t consuming 400-page horror novels or going to Narnia, but it was reading nonetheless.

In those moments it provided both us and our loved ones with pride. We felt a sense of accomplishment. We could read.

 Unfortunately, that spark has gone away for a lot of people. Whether it be laziness, lack of time, or some other excuse,  a lot of us (including myself) do not incorporate reading into our lives consistently.

This is a very bad decision.  Luckily for us, it is never too late to start reaping the benefits. And to say there are many is an understatement.

Here are 5 ways that reading can benefit us.

Reading is a good source of entertainment

Let’s start with something obvious.  It can entertain us.

A cool aspect of book-reading is that you don’t have to read anything that you don’t want to. If you want to stick to a certain genre exclusively, you can. If you want to branch out, you can do that too. It doesn’t matter.

You know what interests you, and you can use that information to find out the type of books you would find most enjoyable.

10 Benefits of Reading Books – Campbell County Public Library (cc-pl.org)

It can help you focus

Unfortunately, some people have a difficult time focusing. Luckily, reading can help with that. 

Reading forces us to pay attention to one thing at a time. You have to be careful when you read to understand everything and be truly captivated by the story.

To do this, you must stay focused, read carefully, and minimalize distractions.

10 Benefits of Reading Books – Campbell County Public Library (cc-pl.org)

It can make you more knowledgeable

You can read on just about anything you wish. If you have an interest in something there is almost certainly a book on it.

Whether that be business, finance, or cooking. You can use these books to build a wealth of knowledge that you might not have otherwise.

10 Benefits of Reading Books: Why You Should Read Every Day (oberlo.com)

It can help you better empathize with others

Getting invested in the lives of fictional characters can help you become more empathetic towards others. Studies have shown long-term fictional readers tend to have a better-developed theory of mind.

11 Benefits of Reading [Scientifically Proven] | Infobooks.org

Reading Literary Fiction Improves Theory of Mind (science.org)

It can help prevent mental decline

Reading is good for everyone. But it can be especially good for those up in age.

Studies have shown that reading can “decrease the “mental decline in old age”. A study showed that those “who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities were less likely to develop brain lesions and plaque build-ups linked to people with dementia”.

Benefits of Reading Books: For Your Physical and Mental Health (healthline.com)

Conclusion

Having a good read can provide us with many different benefits. It can make our life more enjoyable both in the present moment and possibly in the future as well.

Reading can do a lot, but it is up to us to start doing it.  We don’t need to dedicate our entire day to it. Just a few minutes here and there can add up over time.

Maybe when all is said and done you will regret not making a habit of it sooner.