Wellbeing Week: The Mental Benefits of Reading

In our hustle culture mental health is often overlooked in favour of productivity.

 The Mental Benefits of Reading

1. Helps You Fall Asleep
The blue light from screens as well as the endless scrolling can prevent us from falling asleep. Reading, on the other hand, creates a comfortable bedtime routine that signals to your brain that it's time to get some rest!

2. Reduces Stress
Reading has been scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure and stress, as it stops us thinking about the stressful things in life and our never-ending to-do lists. It’s just as relaxing as yoga! Improves

3. Brain Connectivity
As we age, the brain declines in memory and concentration, however reading can help us to keep our brains active. It has been found that frequent brain exercise was able to lower mental decline by 32 percent.

4. Fights Depression Symptoms
Escaping into an alternative world can be just as feel-good as watching our favourite film or doing a good workout. By reading about other people and situations we’re removed from our own circumstances and are forced to look at them with a wider perspective.

All in all, trying to fit at least thirty minutes of reading into your everyday routine seems like a no brainer! Everyone can and should make time for their own mental health, and with its whole host of benefits it’s clear that reading is one habit we should all be focusing on in 2021.