In January 2023, Sarah Lamire, a Today Show lifestyle reporter, published an article about the benefits of reading books. The article lists ten psychological and physical perks of reading regularly. These benefits include increasing a person’s life expectancy, promoting empathy, increasing mental acuity, reducing stress, furthering critical thinking skills, boosting self-care, improving conversation skills, enhancing sleep, fostering human connections, and giving the reader time to reset. It also mentions that the survival rate of older Americans increases by 20% for those who opt for reading books instead of watching television or reading newspapers and magazines. September is when we promote reading, writing, and literature, each improving vocabulary and memory, expanding knowledge, and lowering stress. This blog summarizes Ms. Lamire's article promoting reading books rather than scrolling through social media. Reading books positively affects the reader's life while scrolling social media has adverse effects.
Reading books allows people to learn about others' points of view and emotions, leading to increased insight and empathy. A National Institute on Aging study found that reading provides intellectual engagement, which exercises the brain and improves brain health and vocabulary. Reading books reduces cortisol levels, decreasing stress. Zoe Shaw, a licensed psychotherapist, argues that reading induces a meditative state, which can reduce stress and anxiety as much as practicing yoga. Furthermore, critical thinking skills improve as people's knowledge increases from reading, allowing them to be more open to considering and debating opposing perspectives. Reading is widely known as one of the most relaxing activities. It's hard to get distracted when reading a captivating book that immerses you in its imagery. This escape helps us understand different people, cultures, and beliefs, promoting self-care.
According to the National Institute of Biotechnology Information, proficient readers have a broader vocabulary than average readers. Reading and comprehending at a higher level can improve conversation and writing skills. Reading books has a positive impact on one's ability to sleep compared to browsing through social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. According to Ms. Shaw, reading activates the brain's frontal lobe and limbic systems, which are responsible for various functions including emotions, memory, behavior, motivation, and stress reactions.
Ms. Lamire also highlighted the contrast between the beneficial effects of reading and the isolating nature of spending excessive time on social media. She pointed out that social media activates the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is associated with judgment, reasoning, and rewards linked to dopamine release, making social media addictive. This compulsive behavior can adversely affect relationships, productivity, focus, decision-making, sensations, and sleep.
Children cannot have or read enough books. Having books and reading them has all the benefits of a well-balanced life. Getting a headstart in reading books before a child starts kindergarten significantly improves their lives. Limiting the time children spend on social media and increasing their time reading books is an ideal way to help them socialize and learn about new people, places, and things. Operation Xcel recognizes the value of reading books in the lives of its students. That's why Operation Xcel's programming incorporates reading nooks or rooms at each site.
