How Reading Can Help With Your Mental Health

Reading is enjoyable

When you get into an excellent book, you usually find it challenging to put it down because the narrative engrosses you, and you lose track of time. When the book concludes, you either get depressed that it's over, or you get so excited about the next book in the series that you email the author daily! In addition to the enchanted mood, reading a book has several other advantages.

Reading helps ease tension

It's been demonstrated that losing yourself in a good book can lower stress levels. Reading for six minutes a day can lower stress levels by sixty per cent by lowering heart rate, releasing tense muscles, and improving mood. According to the same study, reading reduces stress more effectively than listening to music, having a cup of tea, taking a stroll, or playing video games.

One can escape the "real world" by reading.

The ability to escape the natural world through reading is closely associated with lowering stress levels. As a child, I used this as a coping strategy a lot to deal with the emotional abuse I received from my family. I frequently lost myself in that realm, encouraging me to put my troubles aside. Although studies have demonstrated that escapism is more complicated than simply reading for lighthearted amusement, they have also shown that people find the process transformative, altering how they connect with others and the outside world.

Reading fosters empathy for other people

It has been demonstrated that reading fiction increases empathy, or the capacity to comprehend the ideas, feelings, and thoughts of another. I was referred to as the mental theory.

Empathy task results were predicted by research participants exposed to fiction, and they even showed a positive association with social support (remember, correlation does not imply causation!). Subsequent investigation on the effect of literature on empathy revealed that reading fiction momentarily increased empathy.

Reading stimulates the brain and guards against memory loss.

It has been demonstrated that engaging in cognitive activities, like reading throughout life (both early and later), slows down memory loss compared to people who don't engage in mentally stimulating activities. According to the same study, engaging in reading, writing, and other hobbies later in age lowered the rate of mental deterioration by 32%. However, the fall of individuals with rarely stimulating activity was 48% quicker than those with moderate activity.

How Can Reframing You Help?

Reframing You supports the joys and benefits of reading through our events organized by renowned authors. We foster a community that appreciates literature and encourages reading by connecting readers with authors. These events provide opportunities to discuss books, gain insights into the writing process, and discover new literary works. Our writing workshops and sessions with experienced authors also help participants improve their writing skills, promoting creativity and cognitive engagement. Through these initiatives, like we did with Author Joe Pulizzi, Reframing You aims to enhance the reading experience, reduce stress, and cultivate empathy, making reading and writing accessible and enjoyable for everyone.