Hey readers,
I have found reading to be beneficial for me and my mental
health. Even though I have some really crappy days I still try to read because I
find it helps in a small way, it might not be much but it is powerful.
So in
this post, I am going to get explore some reasons why reading can help with
improving your mental health.
1. Escapism.
There is nothing worse than the feeling of not being able to
escape your own thoughts that are constantly blasting at you.
It can be easy to
focus on them because they are so loud for attention but sometimes what I find
helpful is a distraction and in this case reading.
Reading for me is escapism
from my thoughts because I am focusing on something else therefore not giving
my thoughts the attention but focusing on reading can give me a break for a
bit.
I read psychological thrillers and
the escapism from the ‘real world’ is what is appealing. I like to get into the mind
of someone else's story, this helps a lot when I am feeling particularly down and need
something to give my mind a break from my life stresses.
2. Reduces stress.
Reading can reduce stress because when you
read for fun it is pleasurable and something that you enjoy.
There is nothing better to read a good book
where you can’t put it down and that is real enjoyment that is a positive
effect on your mind.
The story capturing your attention therefore you reduce
stress levels by relaxing your tensed muscles, giving yourself that feel good
chemicals when pleasure is activated in the brain.
3. Mental stimulation.
Reading can help with giving our brain some stimulation by
keeping it working through reading and creating scenarios in our head of the
plot of the story. These are great to keep your mind active and functioning and
engaging in areas of the mind.
4. Memory.
Reading helps with your memory because for example with a story you need to remember each character what they are like and key events
that has happened to make sense of the future story that you are reading.
Again it comes back to the point about having to focus on something other than
your own thoughts. This is refreshing because it gives you that break for the distress which can help reduce mental stress in the long term.
5. Sleep.
Reading before bed is a perfect ritual you should master as
it helps increase the quality of your sleep. Reading before sleep allows yourself
to relax your body and get it in sleep mode.
Reading can also help you switch off from your own thoughts allowing
quicker time to get to sleep.
Overall with reading at night focusing on the book reduces the negative thoughts because you’re focusing on the reading
meaningless likely to wake up if you are relaxed.
Have you found reading has helped you with your mental
health? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.
Cheers for reading X