The Positive Effects of Reading Books on Your Health

There was a time when parents told children to put down books and go outside to play because they were convinced that sunshine and exercise were the keys to good health. Now, it turns out that the little bookworms had the right idea – reading books actually improves your health and could increase longevity.

A 2016 Yale University study that revealed participants who read books for 30 minutes or more a day lived almost two years longer than non-readers.

According to Verywell Mind this is even after adjusting for variables like age, gender, education, and health.

“Reading is more than a pastime; it’s a powerful tool for cognitive health,” Kathleen Jordan, MD, and Chief Medical Officer of Midi Health, a longevity program designed specifically for women, told Verywell Mind.

Books are Best
Jordan said that reading books produces a stronger increase in longevity than reading magazines or newspapers.

“When you sit down with a book, it often requires deeper concentration, more sustained focus, and more active engagement than flipping through shorter articles,” she explained.

Reading a book is inherently relaxing, suggests Inc. Instead of scrolling, readers settle in, which creates less stress which could affect your physical and mental  health and wellbeing.

The average person spends between four and five hours a day (not work-related) looking at screens. It suggests that 30 minutes of that time can be transferred to reading a book to obtain these life enhancing results.  Regular readers continue to be mentally sharp as they age, experiencing  a 32 percent lower rate of mental decline.

Our Brain on Books
But how exactly does reading create this relaxing effect on the body?

Of course, it’s all in the brain. BigThink explains that even before humans developed the written word they were reading animal tracks in mud, storm patterns in clouds, danger signals in the rustle of leaves. Humans who decoded these messages survived – those who couldn’t, didn’t.

When people read,  their  brains’ visual system recognizes letter shapes and transforms them into words. Language networks map those words to meanings stored in memory. Attention systems keep readers focused on the thread of the story while memory systems integrate new information with existing knowledge. Multiple brain regions work together in coordinated activity.

In layman’s terms, readers’ brains take them into the story and sweep them away from real-life stress. It is sort of like a vacation for the mind.

Return to Reading Mode
Here are some  suggestions for non-readers to get back into reading mode and benefit from books:

Mix it up: While nonfiction engages analytical brain networks, fiction allows readers to fully disengage from active problem-solving.  The  imagination it requires provides the most complete break from stress and worry.

It’s all in the timing: Reading before bed prepares the brain for sleep by reducing stress hormones and activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Readers should make sure to give themselves enough time to become absorbed and not rush through pages.

Create reading rituals: Establishing a regular reading routine — the same location, the same time of day, perhaps the same pre-reading routine — and making it feel like a special treat will help ensure you keep making space for reading and consistently access its benefits.

Pick absorbing material: The stress-reducing benefits of reading depend on full absorption rather than forced attention. If the book doesn’t connect, put it down and pick up something more absorbing.

The beauty of reading to reduce stress and increase longevity is anyone can do it. No special equipment or physical prowess is necessary.  Would-be readers can find books for free at the library or on apps like Libby.

So, to maximize your health, take a break from cycling or lifting weights and snuggle up in an easy chair with a good book. You can even read outdoors while reaping the added benefits of being outdoors.