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How Reading Can Improve Wellness - World Book Day
Heather Rafanello, MSW, LCSW @GrowingMindsetTherapy
In honor of World Book Day, which takes place on Sunday, April 23, 2023 I’m sharing some information on how reading can have a positive impact on your mental health. Regardless of what genre you’re reading, the positive impact of reading are vast, and there’s an abundance of research that supports this statement.
The benefits of reading can continue to last, long after we finish a book. There is some research that has shown that depressive symptoms were reduced months and even years later. Another study found that regularly reading helped reduce mortality by 20% in older adults compared to those who did not read.
Non blue light form of entertainment (duh!)
This point is self-explanatory. Blue light consumes us these days (as I sit here typing away on my computer, with the TV on, and my cell phone buzzing away). Reading a book can be a great way to disconnect from the screens, even if you choose to listen to an audiobook! Limiting our exposure to blue light not only helps our eyes get a break, but it can also indirectly improve our sleep. Blue light stops our body’s natural production of melatonin, which helps us relax and fall asleep, so when we put the screens down and pick up a good book we allow this natural process to occur.
Entertainment + [Healthy] Escapism
As a therapist, I often discuss the benefits + downfalls of coping skills. Coping skills, in my opinion, can often inadvertently be used as forms of avoidance. What I mean is that people use coping skills to cope with (or avoid) feelings that they want to escape, or numb. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly times when this is very appropriate, and even necessary, but the point that I’m trying to make here is that sometimes we are doing ourselves a disservice by coping with an emotion, rather than learning to tolerate it.
Let’s get back on track here, reading can be a form of healthy escapism, or intentional escapism because we are not necessarily avoiding an uncomfortable emotion, rather, we are choosing to entertain ourselves via reading. This also lends itself to improving our creativity and imagination.
Increases empathy + understanding
Reading allows us to form connections with the characters, and learn about their experiences (real or fictional). This connection helps us in two ways. First, it allows us to feel less alone, and has the potential to even validate our emotional experiences. Second, we form a deeper understanding of others, and therefore increases our ability to consider what they might be thinking + feeling. Don’t believe me? A neuroimaging study, (brain imaging) found that participants who ready narrative fiction had higher prefrontal cortex activation, which researchers believe might play a role in the participants ability to understand what others are thinking, and how they might be feeling.
Increases focus
Reading forces us to focus on something tangible. If you’re anything like me, you might find your thoughts wandering while you read, this is totally normal (and yes, a little frustrating too). Rather than approaching these moments with judgment, work on noticing your thoughts wandering + redirect your attention back to the content that you are reading.
This is a great way to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness means practicing paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment. This practice also requires us to redirect our attention back to the present when we get swept away by intrusive thoughts. The good news is, the more you practice, the better you’ll get!
Whether you’re more into reading a memoir, fiction, or a magazine article, the benefits of reading stretch far and wide, and there is an abundance of research to back this claim up. Next time you’re bored, doom scrolling, or struggling to pick a new show, maybe try to pick up a book instead.
Happy Reading!
DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended to treat, or diagnose and medical conditions, nor is it a replacement for mental health or medical treatment. If you or someone you know is in need of clinical support, our team is able to provide therapy services to those in NJ and FL. Contact us to learn more. If you or someone you know is in need of immediate support please contact emergency services. U.S. Mental health crisis line: dial 988 ; medical emergency dial 911
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