Reading & Mental Health

There are many active hobbies that offer numerous health benefits, and one hobby that doesn’t require physical effort and has health benefits is reading. Multiple studies have found that reading reduces stress and lowers blood pressure which is great for physical health. Unmanaged stress can exacerbate mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, however reading helps to decrease stress levels which can result in better mental health. One study found that 30 minutes of daily reading is equally effective in decreasing stress levels as doing yoga for 30 minutes per day. Reduced heart rate and blood pressure causes people to feel calmer and lessens worrying while promoting optimal health.

Perhaps the most impressive benefit of reading is its ability to strengthen and sharpen the mind due to the task requiring focus and engagement. These benefits will only be seen if you are trying to comprehend and understand the material in the book. The genre of the book doesn’t matter, the only thing that does is making sure you’re reading something that will capture your attention and keep you curious. While reading, the brain creates new neural connections that help to expand our imagination which is important for the general function of our brains. Additionally, studies have found a decrease in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s in those who habitually read throughout the years. 

Reading before bed as opposed to playing on your phone helps tremendously in the quality of sleep you will receive each night. The blue light emitted from cell phones inhibits the production of melatonin resulting in negative sleeping patterns whereas reading will allow the natural production. Purchasing books can become expensive, but there are cheaper alternatives that can help save money such as using a free card from your local library, buying used books, or utilizing free memberships such as Audible. 

Source: Dr. Messina & Associates