There are a lot of things that fill our free time these days, one of them being Netflix. I think just about everyone will agree that Netflix is awesome, and I think that just about everyone will agree Netflix is an unproductive way to use your free time. It can be one of the greatest temptations out there, and is extremely addicting, but there are some benefits to resisting. What can you do instead? Read. There are many proven benefits to reading books.
One of the most important benefits is that it increases intelligence. Reading a book on a regular basis will expand your vocabulary, and also increase your reading comprehension levels. Reading requires much more brain power than watching television. One of my favorite benefits from reading is relaxation. When I want to slow my life down, I find it best to get in a quiet area with a new novel in my hands. The most intriguing benefit I have heard is that reading can reduce Alzheimer's. According to ABC News, reading and playing board games on a regular basis can decrease the chances of having Alzheimer's by two and a half times. That might be all of the motivation I need to pick up a book.
I have come to look at reading as more of a habitat, a good habit. Watching TV is a habit as well, but typically less beneficial. When I started reading books again on a regular basis, I found it difficult to read for an extended period of time. I rarely would read more than 30 pages in a single sitting. However, as a few months passed, I was able to read much more and more quickly comprehend what I was reading. Now I can read over 100 pages in a single sitting. Getting in a regular reading schedule has extended my attention span. I have also noticed that reading more has made it much easier to write. Reading gives you more fuel to your fire and builds knowledge. Knowledge is power.
"If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance. Or better, one's chances of survival increase with each book one reads."
-Sherman Alexie
