Growing up, parents always encouraged us to read a book. Surely, playing outside was more fun, but did you know that they actually were on to something? Reading for pleasure has immense benefits, and here are a few of them.

It Provides Mental Stimulation

Staying mentally stimulated can slow the process of (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Much like any other muscle, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong. Since you're keeping your brain active and engaged, this stimulation prevents it from losing "power."

Memory Improvement

While reading, you have to remember an assortment of information, and every new memory you create forges a new brain pathway and strengthens existing ones, which assists in short-term memory recall as well as stabilizing your mood.

You Gain Knowledge

Every thing you read fills your head with new bits of information. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle any challenge you’ll ever face. Also, the more you know, the better you feel about yourself. It has also been shown to combat feelings of loneliness in adults

It Improves Focus and Concentration

Due to our technologically based society, our attention is drawn in a million different ways. When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story. With improved focus and concentration, we can better focus on people when talking to them, giving an open environment, which can actually improve your relationships!

Research from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that reading for enjoyment is more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status. Reading for pleasure could therefore be one important way to help combat social exclusion and raise educational standards.

Stress Reduction

No matter how much stress you have at work, in your daily life, or any stress that one faces, when you lose yourself in a great story, it slips away your stress. Lana Winter-Herbert stated, “A well-written novel can transport you to other realms, while an engaging article will distract you and keep you in the present moment, letting tensions drain away and allowing you to relax”. How nice is it to know that an escape from all of the stress in the world can literally be at the tip of your fingers?

Reading spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and bring about an immense sense of calm, while reading self-help has been shown to help people from certain mood disorders and mild mental illnesses.