“To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.” — A.C. Grayling
As students, reading is something that we are nagged to do often: heavy, dense textbooks, comprehensive research and, to top it off, endless piles of further reading. With the vast amounts of reading that has to be done for school, many teenagers are forgetting to read purely for pleasure. Teenagers increasingly have less time for leisure and so, living in the digital age, it is often seen as much easier to use technology and social media as a means of entertainment. Although many teenagers do enjoy reading, others do not because of a lack or, more likely, loss of interest.
The National Literacy Trust has said that “Research has repeatedly shown that motivation to read decreases with age, especially if pupils' attitudes towards reading become less positive”. This is a cause for concern because reading has numerous benefits but are often lost due to students losing interest in reading.
A study has shown that reading for a mere six minutes can reduce heart rate and ease muscle tension. It is also shown to be more relaxing than other proven methods such as listening to music, drinking tea or going on a walk. Therefore reading only for a short while can still grant several physical and mental benefits, and in turn is bound to increase your desire to read more often.
Here are 5 reasons to read:
1. It reduces stress:
“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” – Mason Cooley
Reading is a way of focussing your attention towards something else away from the stresses of daily life. Reading can provide a sense of escapism, whether it is non-fiction or fiction. A study from 2009 by the University of Sussex shows that reading for just that six minutes can decrease stress levels by a massive 68%.
2. It improves your memory:
Reading boosts activity in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Reading is mentally stimulating and uses your imagination to make new connections in your brain that enhance memory.
3. It improves focus and concentration:
In today’s world with the major role that technology plays in our lives and access to the Internet, our attention is constantly split between different tasks. Reading gives the brain a chance to focus completely on one task, improving focus and concentration when it comes to other tasks.
4. It improves understanding and critical thinking skills:
Reading allows you to ‘experience’ numerous lives other than your own, giving you the opportunity to change your outlook on life by exploring the perspectives, ideas and thoughts of different characters and people. Reading also allows you to be more empathetic whilst improving critical thinking skills in your ability to understand people outside yourself.
5. It makes you cleverer:
Reading makes you smarter by expanding your own vocabulary and shaping the way you write and engage in conversation. Reading stimulates neural networks and acts as a workout for the brain, slowing down mental aging. It also gives you random bits of knowledge that may come in handy!
So what books to read? Non-fiction can be very beneficial, however it is not always seen as the most relaxing or interesting to read after a long and stressful day. It is common knowledge that some of the most successful people got to where they are today because of reading non-fiction, but this doesn’t mean that only reading non-fiction is worthwhile. Fiction is also filled with benefits, such as improving your creativity and imagination. There is a genre that will interest every person so read around to find what you like. Whatever reading takes your fancy, read because it will dramatically improve your studying ability and mental health, which are both especially important as a student.
The more you read, the better!
