In a wellness and longevity conscious society, why aren't more people talking about the health benefits of reading books?
I first started thinking about the relationship between health and reading when I was recovering from health complications earlier this year. I hadn't been moving as much as usual and I noticed my resting heart rate had increased. I spoke with my Doctor about my situation and they said that can happen. Very sad.
Anyway, a book I'm really excited about is releasing this fall (Cassandra Clare's newest book,) so I picked up the first book in that universe to start a reread marathon comfily ensconced in my recliner. I checked my heartrate after getting a notification on my watch and it was the lowest it had been in weeks. Wow! Can reading really do that? That's when I turned to the internet for answers.
An article published in the Social Science & Medicine journal titled, "A Chapter a Day-Association of Book Reading with Longevity," found that reading books for about 30 minutes per day increased the person's lifespan. Reading books offered more protection than magazines and short form content likely because of the "immersive nature that helps maintain cognitive status."
This is pretty wonderful news for everyone. Reading is an inclusive exercise. You can read sitting down, laying down, walking, jogging, cleaning, or driving. Reading can be accessible to most people with the help of Large Type books, paperback books, dyslexic font books, braille books, Wonder Books, ebooks, or audiobooks.
Health Benefits of Reading Books
- Slow Cognitive Decline (we also have puzzles to play in the branches!)
- Improve Sleep
- Lower Heart Rate
- Reduce Cortisol/Stress
- Make You Live Longer
It's time to start reading for pleasure, for knowledge, for health!
Here are a few places to start:
Lucky Day: Hoopla App Top Picks
You can find even more book recommendations on our Adult Readers' Advisory page!
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