Reasons Why You Should Read More - Scholarly Write-ups

Spending more time at home during the pandemic led more people to rediscover old hobbies and begin new ones; one of these being reading. In March of 2020, around 35% of the world began to read more; which The Conversation attributes to people who want to experience freedom, even if it was just through books.

Re-reading books have also become a popular route because it brings a sense of comfort as readers already know about future events, unlike the current state of the world.

Regardless of the motivation, there is a lot that can be gained from picking up a good book. In this article, we’ll be listing the main reasons you should get into reading, as well as ways to motivate yourself to keep going.

Contents hide

1 Why You Should Read More

2 How To Motivate The Bookworm In You

2.1 Create a reading nook

2.2 Make it a habit

2.3 Keep track using reading apps

2.4 Sign up for a reading challenge

Why You Should Read More

Science demonstrates that there are many mental benefits to reading. One of the biggest contributors to human illness and disease is stress – it increases the risks of strokes and heart disease by 50% and 40%, respectively.

However, according to a study conducted by the University of Sussex, reading can reduce stress levels by as much as 68%. That’s even more than listening to music or going for a walk. The ability to be fully immersed yourself in reading is what essentially makes it such a potent stress reliever.

Reading can also sharpen the mind. It can even help stave off more severe forms of cognitive impairment later in life; such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Those who engage in reading on a regular basis and other mentally stimulating activities are less likely to show evidence of dementia such as brain lesions, plaques, and tangles.

Moreover, reading physical books can help improve sleep. Light emitted from devices such as smartphones actually hinders melatonin production in the brain. Conversely, engaging in a nightly reading routine instead of scrolling through social media can help ease the transition between wakefulness and slumber.

Finally, books can also help you gain more knowledge and be more insightful in life. This is why former US President Barack Obama encourages readers: “If you know how to read, then the whole world opens up to you”. Even business tycoon Bill Gates makes sure to read an average of 50 books a year.

Reading can boost creativity and flexibility, two very important strengths that will get you further in life.

How To Motivate The Bookworm In You

Create a reading nook

If you want to fully immerse yourself in a book, you might need a dedicated reading space. Find a quiet place in our home that has good lighting and a comfortable place to sit. To spice up your area, you can add some scented candles, soft music, houseplants, and personal items that can help you get in the mood. If you are in the right mindset, it will help you find more enjoyment in the process, and even help you immerse yourself more into the world of the book you are reading.

Make it a habit

If you want to get into reading more books, but feel like it is difficult for you to find the energy to do so, making a habit of it will be a big help. Acclaimed author James Clear writes that you can overcome your lack of motivation by believing in your own capabilities of finishing a task. Creating an effective system that gets you to read even just a little bit per day can transform into a love for the activity. You can do this by setting an hour or so per day dedicated to consuming a few chapters. Give yourself a reward for finishing, so you will continue to be motivated to repeat the process in the following days.

Keep track using reading apps

You can also find the motivation to read by keeping track of the titles you’ve read. There are tons of mobile applications you can download on your smartphone to help you quickly update your reading progress or to add new read-later finds on your list. Popsci advises readers to take advantage of app features, like posting book reviews and accessing other readers’ reviews as well. Others have a ‘matching’ feature that can match you with other books according to the genres and titles you enjoyed. This way, you can find intriguing titles that you might enjoy to keep you interested in the activity.

If you want to be a regular reader, there is no better way to start than to pick up a book right after you go through our list. Hopefully, we were able to provide you with some helpful information to help you get started on your reading journey.

If you’re looking to exceed your own expectations, why not try signing up for a reading challenge or a book club?

There are annual challenges online with set goals – some even have more specific guidelines such as monthly quotas, or specific genres and titles. Reading isn’t a competition, but having a more tangible goal to work towards can help drive you to read more. Additionally, reading a lot can help you transform it into a lifelong habit.